Texas Tech Athletics
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UTSA
3-2,0-0AAC
Tech forces 31 turnovers in victory against UTSA
November 20, 2023 | Women's Basketball
LUBBOCK, Texas – The defense was on another level tonight after the Texas Tech Lady Raiders forced a season-best 31 turnovers against the UTSA Roadrunners en route to the 63-58 win on Monday night at United Supermarkets Arena.
Not only was this the most turnovers forced this year, but it was the first time since 2019 that Tech forced more than 25 in a game. In addition, the Lady Raiders tied another program record this season, making it three so far, after forcing 11 turnovers in the second quarter (which tied the 11 forced in the first quarter against Oklahoma in 2018).
Both Bailey Maupin and Jasmine Shavers did something no other teammates have done this century as they are the first duo in the 21st century to record double-figure scoring in the first five games of the season. Maupin posted a team-leading 18 points in the game, while adding six rebounds, a team-high four assists and a steal in a career-best 38 minutes played. Shavers added 15 points on the night with two rebounds, two assists and three takeaways.
Ashley Chevalier had a great performance on the court after scoring a season-best eight points with two boards, three steals and an assist. Kilah Freelon also tallied eight points on 3-of-5 shooting (60%), and Jordyn Merritt posted seven points and seven boards, with four steals and two blocks – leading the Lady Raiders in both of those categories. Â
The Lady Raiders outscored the Roadrunners 22-15 in the first quarter, while also grabbing 10 boards and adding five steals. Tech connected on six shots and eight free throws in the quarter and forced seven UTSA turnovers. Tech started the game with two free throws after a technical foul on UTSA before the contest began due to a late starting lineup submission. However, UTSA jumped out to a 9-3 lead to answer. Tech responded with a 5-0 run thanks to a jumper from Chevalier and a 3-pointer from Merritt to come within one. UTSA would lead 11-10 with 4:20 left in the quarter, but then the Lady Raiders scored six-straight points for the 16-11 advantage, before closing out the first quarter with a seven-point lead.
Tech posted 13 points, five rebounds and four steals, and tied a program record after forcing 11 Roadrunner turnovers in the second quarter. Maupin started the scoring in the period after making a jumper a minute and a half in. Then, Shavers sparked a 12-0 run for the Lady Raiders to take a 32-17 lead. UTSA answered with their own run as the team scored 10 of the next 12 points to get within 10 heading into halftime.
The Lady Raiders were led in the third quarter by Maupin, who totaled eight points on 50 percent shooting, while Merritt added a couple of blocks. Tech forced seven more turnovers in the period while grabbing four steals. Maupin opened the third quarter with a 3-pointer before the Roadrunners went on a 6-2 run. A jumper from Shavers stopped the UTSA momentum, but then the Roadrunners scored seven-consecutive points. A block from Merritt turned things around for the Lady Raiders as Maupin posted a 3-pointer right after. Elina Arike then closed the quarter out with another three as Tech led 50-42.
The Scarlet & Black shot 40 percent from the field in the fourth quarter with 13 points, seven boards and three steals. However, the Roadrunners would make a run for the lead, getting as close as three points when Tech led 51-48 with seven and a half minutes left. UTSA kept at it as Cheyenne Rowe scored a layup to make it 57-54 in Tech's favor, but a layup from Shavers and two free throws by Maupin extended the lead and helped the Lady Raiders pull out the win, 63-58.
QUOTES
Head coach Krista Gerlich
On having multiple options to score…
"We have to be able to spread the ball around. We definitely know that we have great depth and that we've got other options. At one point, I think it was in the third quarter, I glanced up at the board and all of our starters had eight points apiece except for like one. That's hard to defend and that's hard to scout, when you've got your starters that can all get into double digits. I thought Jazzy (Jasmine Shavers) was really good late in the game. Probably one of my favorite plays was Bailey (Maupin) and her running the back door late, because that wasn't drawn up. That wasn't something that that we said, 'Hey, look for this.' That was them just playing basketball. That's what we're trying to get to. [Get] to where they can just read each other and have that chemistry on the court. That was a really great play."
On playing a tight game...
"I mean it's huge, right? It's huge to have to go through adversity on the court. I love the fact that we were up 17 in the first half. I was surprised that we were up 17 in the first half. We lost a little bit of momentum in the last two minutes of the second quarter and going into halftime. I was disappointed with that because we've got to learn how to extend the lead and keep the momentum going into halftime. When they got within, I don't know if it was three, or maybe a little closer than that, [but] I never had to call a timeout to keep us composed. I never had to call a timeout to stop the run. That's what I think is huge and a learning lesson right now for these kids because we're young and we're young on the court. They're figuring out how to do that themselves, so I can save some timeouts, but also so that they learn how to push through that adversity in the flow of the game. Really huge for us to have an intense game like that. It felt like a Big 12 game and kudos to UTSA because they've got the size of the Big 12. I think that they're really buying into what Coach Aston is doing there."
Sophomore #20 Bailey Maupin
On her defensive effort tonight…
"You know, some days you just don't hit shots, and in the first half, I didn't hit very many shots, but my defense was there. So, I knew coming into the second half that I just had to keep my defense there and hopefully it would spark my offense."
On the close nonconference game…
"I love these games in nonconference. I think they're great for us and I think we need them. I think the better teams that you play, you know, that's how you evaluate yourself and see where you are. So, I think this was a really good game for us because UTSA is a really good team."
Junior #25 Ashley Chevalier
On the close nonconference game…
"It's definitely something we need to go through in nonconference because we are obviously in a very tough conference and we're going to face a lot of tough teams and adversity. So, it's great that we're getting it now."
On her defensive effort tonight…
"I think that's just a big thing, and it's probably a big reason why Coach (Gerlich) recruited me, is that I have pride and passion and purpose. Those are just things that I embody both in what I want to do and what I want to show on the court. One of my favorite compliments is that people love how hard I play and how passionate I look, like that they love my energy. Those are my favorite compliments and I know that my team counts on that… I'm the energy a lot of the times and I know that's what they need, so I try to give it every night."
UP NEXT
The Lady Raiders are on the road for the first time this season as they travel to Las Vegas for the Las Vegas Thanksgiving Classic on Nov. 24-25.
