In the Big 12 women’s basketball opener for both teams, the Texas Tech Lady Raiders lost to the Oklahoma Sooners 97-91 on Jan. 2 at the United Supermarkets Arena.
The Lady Raiders hung in with Sooners in the first half, who came in averaging 89.1 points per game, good for second in the nation.
Tech super senior Taylah Thomas, a transfer from Arkansas, ended up scoring 25 points for a new career-high, and super senior Vivian Gray, a preseason All-American, scored 21. Both of them finished one rebound short of a double-double.
First Half
Oklahoma shot over 60% in the first quarter to jump out to a 29-17 lead, but the Lady Raiders defense held the Sooners to just under 30% in the second quarter as Tech cut the Oklahoma lead to 5 at the half.
In the first half, Thomas had 13 points on a brilliant 5-for-6 shooting and 3-for-3 from the free throw line, and Gray contributed nine points, four rebounds, two assists and a block.
Both teams ultimately shot over 46% from the field in the half, but Oklahoma carried a 46-41 lead into the halftime break.
Superb Runs From Both Teams in Third Quarter
Then in the third quarter, a confusing sequence happened where Tech freshman Chantae Embry was called for a foul that resuled in Oklahoma’s Taylor Robertson taking two technical free throws. It’s hard to tell exactly what happened, but whatever it was, it was bad for the Lady Raiders.
Senior Madi Williams, senior Kelbie Washington and the Sooners went scorching hot, going on a 22-2 run led by Williams’ 10 third-quarter points and Washington’s seven points in the quarter.
Then suddenly, it was like the teams switched, as Texas Tech started to claw their way back, with the Sooners ending the quarter 2-for-14 shooting and the Lady Raiders going on a 19-4 run to cut the deficit to 10 going into the fourth quarter.
Six of Thomas’ rebounds were on the offensive end, and Oklahoma head coach Jennie Baranczyk said Thomas was phenomenal.
“Her offensive rebounding is some of the best we’ve seen,” Baranczyk said, “and we’ve seen some pretty good offensive rebounders, but she finished really well as well.”
Baranczyk said they need to prepare for someone like her better, but she admits that is very hard to do.
Gerlich also praised Thomas’ performance, even as Thomas herself said she cares more about the loss than her own play.
Bre’Amber Scott, a junior transfer from Arkansas-Little Rock, made her first start as she comes back from injury, and she put up 10 points of her own.
Fourth-Quarter Comeback Was Too Little, Too Late
However, it was too little, too late, even as the Lady Raiders made their last seven shots. If it was much closer, it could’ve been an improbable comeback for the ages, as it looked like Oklahoma would win by double digits, but it ended up just being a six-point victory.
It’s a loss all the same, however, and it’s by far the most points the Lady Raiders have allowed all season, and the most since they let Kansas drop 98 on them in February 2021.
Gray said she learned the Lady Raiders can fight, but they need to play defense.
“I learned that we can fight,” Gray said. “I mean, we’re down by over 20 and we came back, I mean within range, so I think that’s one positive take out of it. I think what we really learned is that we have to play defense, like them scoring 97 on our home court is…that’s unacceptable.”
Up Next: No. 12 Texas on the Road
The next test for the Lady Raiders will be the No. 9 Texas Longhorns in Austin on Wednesday, who won their conference opener over Oklahoma State on Sunday 62-51.
Texas has the best scoring defense in the Big 12, as they force 24.09 turnovers per game, good for seventh in the country.
Gerlich said they are going to be a tough team, especially on the road.
“They really press you hard and try to turn you over a lot, so we’ll have to have a lot of poise about us and ball control,” Gerlich said, “but I do think we can compete against them and compete at a high level and figure out how to steal some wins on the road because that’s what it comes down to. We really need to protect home court and get a couple of steals on the road.”
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