The Texas Tech women’s basketball team (9-13, 2-9 Big 12) narrowly lost to No. 16 Texas (16-6, 6-5 Big 12) 61-56 in what was a four quarter brawl.
To celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day, the Lady Raiders came out on fire against the heavily favored Longhorns. While the Longhorns wound up securing the win, the Lady Raiders could hang their hat on yet another hard-fought game that went to the final whistle.
First Quarter
The game began with a hot streak from Tech forward Vivian Gray. Gray hit her first three shots to help build a 6-3 lead.
The Longhorns took an 8-6 lead after guard Rori Harmon converted a three-point play. Texas was able to extend its lead to 10-6 after a made jumper by forward Audrey Warren.
A few possessions later, Tech guard Bryn Gerlich scored in transition to tie the game at 12. With the game tied at 14 later in the quarter, Gerlich drained an open jumper to put Tech back on top.
In the final minute of the first, Tech center Ella Tofaeono scored inside and the Lady Raiders ended the quarter up 22-18.
Second Quarter
Tech forward Taylah Thomas scored the first points of the second quarter on a nice put-back. The score gave the Lady raiders a 24-18 lead, the largest point differential up to that point.
Later in the quarter, Warren sank two free throws to bring Texas within one. A few possessions later, Texas took a 28-27 after a made basket by center Lauren Ebo.
As the quarter wound down, both teams exchanged blows. Tech forward Chantae Embry made a mid-range jumper to retake the lead for the Lady Raiders, but Longhorn forward Latasha Lattimore responded with a bucket of her own to put the Longhorns up 30-29.
The Lady Raiders would eventually head to the halftime locker room down 32-31.
Vivian Gray led the way for the Lady Raiders with eight first half points while going four for ten from the field. Warren and Lattimore led the way for the Longhorns, each scoring six points in the first half.
Third Quarter
Longhorn guard Joanne Allen-Taylor got the scoring started in the second half. After getting fouled, Allen-Taylor sank two free throws to put Texas up 34-31.
A few minutes into the quarter, Gray finally broke the lid for the Lady Raiders. Gray put on a flurry of moves and dropped in a floater from the mid-range to get Tech back within one.
Down five with just under two minutes in the quarter, Chauntae Embry drained a corner three to cut the Longhorn lead to two. Neither team could score again in the quarter, and the Lady Raiders headed into the fourth down 40-38.
Fourth Quarter
The Lady Raiders opened the fourth quarter in attack mode. Vivian Gray scored on a tough inside look to tie the game, and then scored again on a baseline jumper to take a 42-40 lead.
Texas would regain a two point advantage after Audrey Warren scored on a fast-break opportunity. The Longhorns would later extend their lead with a three ball from Joanne Allen-Taylor.
Later in the quarter, Texas took a 50-43 lead when guard Aliyah Matharu splashed home a three. Vivian Gray would shrink the deficit back to five after knocking down her ninth field goal.
With Texas up five at the two minute mark, Allen-Taylor sank a long two-pointer to extend the Longhorn lead to 56-49.
Bryn Gerlich kept the Lady Raiders alive by scoring on back-to-back possessions. First she hit a jumper from the mid-range, then she nailed an open three to cut the deficit to 56-54.
Down 58-54 in the final minute, Vivian Gray made another basket to bring Tech back within two.
After Texas converted a free throw, the Lady Raiders had a chance to tie the game with a three in the final seconds. Guard Lexy Hightower had an opportunity from the corner, but the shot was blocked, and Texas was able to protect its slim three point lead.
The Longhorns sank a few free throws, and the game ended in a 61-56 Longhorn Victory.
Game Leaders
Vivian Gray led the Lady Raiders with 20 points. She also added five rebounds and a steal.
Joanne Allen-Taylor led the Longhorns with 14 points. She also added three steals and recorded the game-sealing block.
Postgame Comments
Longhorn head coach Vic Shaefer had high praise for the Lady Raiders.
“We knew we were going to have to play awfully well . . . they challenge you in every phase of the game.” Shaefer said. “Out of bounds, underneath, sideline out of bounds, they run some great stuff in the half court, they got a difference player that they can go to in Vivian [Gray] . . . it takes a full effort.”
Lady Raider head coach Krista Gerlich said despite the losing streak there are many positives to take away from this recent string of games.
“You just got to keep growing, keep grinding, and that’s probably what I’ve been the most impressed with because there’s been some moments I feel like they could’ve waived the white flag and that’s not in their DNA.”
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