Texas Tech Athletics
[4] Wyoming
Tech opens WBIT at Wyoming
March 19, 2025 | Women's Basketball
LUBBOCK, Texas – The Texas Tech Lady Raiders head to Laramie, Wyo., for the first round of the WBIT to take on the 4-seeded Wyoming Cowgirls on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. CT. This is the fifth overall meeting between both teams as they are tied 2-2 all-time in program history. The last meeting between Tech and Wyoming came in the second round of the WNIT on March 23, 2010 as the Cowgirls won it by a score of 68-57 in overtime.
This is Texas Tech's first appearance in the WBIT, the second highest postseason tournament. The Lady Raiders last made the postseason when they accepted a bid into the 2023 WNIT. In that tournament, the Lady Raiders made a Sweet 16 appearance, eventually losing at Arkansas, 71-66. Before this, the last time Tech made the NCAA Tournament was in 2013.
The Lady Raiders (17-17) won two games at the Big 12 Championships for the first time in 22 years, while also achieving the program's 1,000th win in the process, one of 19 D1 schools to do so. In addition, Tech made the quarterfinals for the first time since 2019. Tech went 2-1 in the tournament, getting wins over Kansas and RV Utah, while falling to No. 21 Oklahoma State by just three points in the quarterfinals.
In the Big 12 Championships, junior Bailey Maupin led the way in scoring with 16.7ppg, followed by Jasmine Shavers with 13.0ppg, Denae Fritz with 8.7ppg and Loghan JohnÂson with 8.3ppg. Leading the way on the rebounding side was Maupin with 4.7 per game (14 total), as well as Kilah Freelon and Fritz with 4.3 per game (13).
Johnson had a career night against Oklahoma State, where she led the Lady Raiders with a career-high of 17 points and 7-for-11 from the field (.636). She also recorded a 2-for-2 outing from behind the arc for a career best. Both Johnson (10-for-16) and Maya Peat (5-for-8) led the team in FG percentage, with Fritz leading the charge with seven 3-pointers, followed by Maupin and Shavers with five each. Additionally, both Maupin and Shavers recorded double-figure scoring games in all three contests, while Maupin also added a 20+ point game against Utah with 22.
Texas Tech is on a run, winning three of its last four games of the season, including defeating 1-seed in the WBIT Colorado, Utah (who was receiving votes and is in the NCAA Tournament) and Kansas. In these four games, Maupin leads the team with 17.5ppg and Shavers is just behind with 13.3ppg. The Lady Raiders are forcing 17 turnovers per game, shooting 74.1 percent from the free throw line (63-for-85), averaging 32.8 rebounds per game which is 4.8 more than their opponents, going 90- for-199 from the field (.452) while holding opponents to 40.8 percent (89-for-218). In addition, Texas Tech shot 31-for-72 from the 3-point line (.431) to its opponents' 29.3 percent, while also adding 47 assists, 15 blocks and 34 steals.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
The Wyoming Cowgirls are 22-11 on the season, recently making it to the Mountain West tournament finals, losing to San Diego State in the championship. The Cowgirls have key wins against Fresno State, Air Force, UNLV, New Mexico and Utah State, and they finished their regular conference season with a 14-4 record. As a team, the Cowgirls are scoring 65.6 points per game and holding opponents to 58.8 points per game. Shooting 45.8 percent from the field, Wyoming totals 36.0 rebounds per game and 16.2 assists per game. There are three Cowgirls who average double-figure scoring on the year – Allyson Fertig (18.9), Malene Pederson (14.1) and Emily Mellema (10.4). On the rebounding side, Fertig averages a double-double with 11.5 boards per game, followed by Mellema with 4.0 per game.
LIVE STATS/STREAMING
Live stats will be provided on StatBroadcast and the game will be streamed on ESPN+. Fans can also listen to the games in the Varsity Network App.
KEY DATES*
First round: Thursday, March 20 on ESPN+
Second round: Sunday, March 23 on ESPN+
Quarterfinals: Thursday, March 27 on ESPN+
Semifinals: 2:30 and 5 p.m. ET Monday, March 31 on ESPNU at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis
Championship: 6 p.m. ET Wednesday, April 2 on ESPNU at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis
*First, second and quarterfinal games will be held at campus sites. Action then moves to Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis for the semifinals and the championship.
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