Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
Villanova
No. 7 Lady Raiders primed for NCAA Tournament
March 18, 2026 | Women's Basketball
BATON ROUGE, La. – The 7-seeded Texas Tech Lady Raiders will play in their first NCAA Tournament game in 13 years as they face the 10-seeded Villanova Wildcats on Friday at 7:30 p.m. CT at the Maravich Center in Baton Rouge, La. Texas Tech and Villanova will play each other for the first time in program history.
The Lady Raiders hold a 7-3 record against teams in the 2026 NCAA Tournament, getting wins over TCU, Baylor, West Virginia, Arizona State, UTSA and Jacksonville, while losing to Iowa State, Oklahoma State and Colorado. Tech is making its 21st appearance in the NCAA Tournament, holding a 30-19 record in the competition. Texas Tech's last appearance in the NCAA Tournament was in 2013 when it fell in the first round to South Florida, 71-70. The last time the Lady Raiders won a game in the NCAA Tournament was in 2005 when they advanced to the Sweet 16 as a 4-seed.
After being picked 13th in the Big 12 preseason poll, the Texas Tech Lady Raiders finished tied for fourth in the conference this season. The Lady Raiders broke streaks and records this season, exceeding expectations with their 25-7 overall record and 12-6 Big 12 record at the end of the regular season. Texas Tech posted its highest conference finish since the 2012-13 season, its most overall wins since the 2003-04 season and its most Big 12 wins since the 2004-05 season.
The Lady Raiders are led in scoring by Bailey Maupin with 15.1 points per game. Maupin, who was named a finalist for the WBCA All-America team, also leads the team in 3-pointers (64), free throws (116) and points (482). Senior Snudda Collins is just behind in points per game with 14.8, which is the most by a bench player in the country. She also leads with 162 field goals made and is also approaching 500 points this season as she is at 474.
Senior point guard Gemma Núñez is leading the team with 154 assists and 67 steals. She ranks 36th nationally and fifth in the Big 12 in assist to turnover ratio (2.05). Her 154 assists and 4.8 assists per game are both ranked 41st nationally. At the end of the regular season, Núñez eclipsed 500 assists and 500 rebounds to become one of 12 active players in the nation to have 500/500 in her career. She is just two steals away from joining the 500/500/200 club as she would become one of nine active players to do so.
As a team, the Lady Raiders ranks 34th in the nation and second in the Big 12 holding teams to 58.1 points per game. The Lady Raiders are holding teams to 27.1 percent from behind the arc as well as 36.8 percent from the field to rank 19th and 26th nationally in those respective categories. The Lady Raiders' 5.8 blocks per game are good for ninth nationally, while they are forcing 19.50 turnovers per game to check in at second in the Big 12 and 48th in the nation. Texas Tech is also averaging 28.6 bench points per game, which is eighth in the nation and first in the Big 12.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
The 10-seeded Villanova Wildcats, who are receiving votes in both national polls, are 25-7 overall and went 16-4 in the BIG EAST conference. Villanova has key wins over West Virginia (81-59), Seton Hall, Marquette and Creighton. Their losses were against UConn (three times), St. John's, Marquette, Princeton and Fairfield. Villanova finished second in the regular season while also appearing in the BIG EAST conference tournament finals, falling to No. 1-ranked UConn by a 51-90 score.
As a team, the Wildcats are averaging 71.8 points per game and holding teams to just 61.4 points per game. Shooting 43.8 percent from the field and 34.6 percent from behind the arc, Villanova is also averaging 17.9 assists per game and 9.9 steals per game. They rank 14th nationally in both assists per game and assist to turnover ratio (1.34). In addition, they are shooting 78.2 percent from the free throw line to check in at 15th in the country.
The Wildcats are led in scoring by Jasmine Bascoe (18.8) and Brynn McCurry (10.7). On the rebounding side, McCurry leads the team with 5.2 per game, followed by Denae Carter with 5.0 per game. Bascoe also leads the Wildcats with 154 assists, 236 field goals, 592 field goal attempts, 60 threes, 71 free throws and 603 points. She ranks fourth nationally in field goal attempts, 22nd in field goals made, 31st in points and 41st in assists.
NCAA Tournament Information
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