Texas Tech Athletics
11-2,0-0Big 12
Lamar
5-4,1-0Southland
Johnson records career-high in points against Lamar
December 17, 2024 | Women's Basketball
LUBBOCK, Texas – Behind another 20-plus point performance from Bailey Maupin and a career-game from Loghan Johnson, the Texas Tech Lady Raiders finished their nonconference with a win over the Lamar Cardinals, 73-67, on Tuesday afternoon at the United Supermarkets Arena.
Maupin, who led the team in scoring, posted her second-straight game with 20 or more points as she totaled 21 against Lamar (5-4, 1-0 Southland). Maupin got the majority of her points from the free throw line, where she posted a career-high in free throws and attempts, going 15-for-18 (.833) at the line. She also led the team with three assists and three steals.
Johnson recorded a new career-high in points, field goals and 3-pointers after going 6-for-8 (.750) from the field and 2-for-2 from behind the arc for 16 points. Johnson added a team-leading three assists as well as a steal and two rebounds for the Lady Raiders (11-2). Redshirt junior Denae Fritz was perfect in shooting today after going 3-for-3 from the field with a season best in points (8) and threes (2).
Leading the team in rebounding was Maya Peat, who grabbed a season-best six against the Cardinals, and also added six points and an assist. Junior Jasmine Shavers was the third Lady Raider to tally double-figure scoring as she totaled 12 points, eight coming in the first quarter, and shot a perfect 4-for-4 from the line. The Lady Raiders had their second-best shooting game of the year after going 21-for-41 from the field (51.2%) and totaling eight 3-pointers on 47.1 percent from the arc. Tech also made its most free throws of the season with 23.
Lamar scored first, taking a 3-0 lead to start the game. Then, Shavers got hot and scored all eight of the Lady Raiders' points going into the media timeout as Tech led by an 8-6 score. Fritz hit a 3-pointer to give the Lady Raiders the 11-6 advantage, but Lamar scored five consecutive points to tie things up. Jordyn Merritt followed with a layup for a slim lead, then the Cardinals made two free throws to once again tie the game. Merritt was able to steal the ball right under Tech's basket, then dished it to Fritz for an easy layup. Maupin connected with a couple of free throws as the Lady Raiders closed the period with a 17-13 lead.
Maupin started the second quarter with a successful and-one opportunity to increase the lead to seven. Lamar answered with a three, but Johnson made one of her own. Both teams went back-and-forth until the Cardinals went on a 6-0 run. Adlee Blacklock was able to stop their momentum briefly after nailing a 3-pointer, but Lamar was able to score the next four points. With 35 seconds left, Fritz hit her second three and Peat scored a layup to take a 33-28 lead. But, Lamar wouldn't go away and was able to grab offensive rebounds in the final seconds and hit a buzzer-beating three to get within one point at the half, 33-32.
Kilah Freelon scored a layup to being the third quarter, then Shavers made two free throws for the 37-32 advantage. It was short-lived though as Lamar would quickly score five points thanks to a three and two free throws to tie things at 37-all. Then, the Cardinals hit a mid-range jumper to take their first lead since the beginning of the game. Maupin would score a jumper next to tie it, then Johnson made her second 3-pointer of the day to make it 42-39. The Lady Raiders would score eight of the next 11 points, highlighted by a Johnson buzzer-beating layup, to lead 51-45 going into the last quarter.
Lamar opened the final period on a 5-0 run before Peat was able to stop it with a layup. However, the Cardinals got two quick layups of their own to answer, taking the lead at 54-53. Blacklock connected with a 3-pointer to give the Lady Raiders a 56-54 lead, but the Cardinals once again score four straight points to lead 58-56. Maupin got fouled on a shot attempt and converted both free throws to tie it up at 58-58. Johnson hit a new season high when she scored a lead-changing layup, but Lamar did the same to tie right after. With 2:41 left in the game, the Lady Raiders went on a 5-0 run for a 68-63 advantage. Texas Tech kept the lead despite Lamar's efforts, making a few free throws along the way, to defeat the Cardinals by a 73-67 score.
Up next, Texas Tech hosts the Houston Cougars for its first Big 12 contest on Sunday, December 22 at 2 p.m. at the United Supermarkets Arena.
Quoteables
Head Coach Krista Gerlich
On what she saw see from Loghan Johnson tonight...
"I saw what Loghan has done for us. She's so aggressive with the basketball, so strong physically, super quick first step and she was having a lot of luck. They had a couple of kids that could do that to us, and I loved that Loghan countered and went right back at them."
On what she wants to see improve leading up to Big 12 play…
"I think our schedule moving forward is going to help us a little bit because it's going to be a little more routine. So, Wednesdays and Saturdays are going to be able to prepare a little bit differently."
#23 Guard Loghan Johnson
On navigating the slow start…
"I think part of our process recently has been learning how to navigate when it's a roller coaster like that, learning how to manage their runs, and then going for runs for ourselves. So, I think the moments that got us to actually come out on top with the dub is staying together in those moments, having tight huddles where we were all on the same page, limiting turnovers and just doing what we do best, defending."
On what she was doing right scoring wise…
"I feel like I am not really doing anything differently. I'm playing within myself. I am just being confident in the different atmosphere tonight."
On if the different atmosphere today has an impact on play…
"My ears are still ringing. I mean, It's the second time around with a game like that, but you don't get used to it. It's a shock whenever they are breaking a sound barrier. But it's fun playing with them in the stands for sure."
