Lady Raider basketball celebrated Senior Night prior to its final home game of the season. Before tipping off against TCU, Lady Raider seniors Vivian Gray, Taylah Thomas, and Lexy Hightower were all honored with flowers, framed jerseys, and on-court pictures with family and friends.
The Lady Raiders grabbed a big win over TCU to give the seniors a proper home send off. Tech and TCU went back-and-forth for four quarters, but ultimately the Lady Raiders pulled out an 83-79 victory.
With the win, Tech improved to 11-17 and 4-13 in Big 12 play. TCU fell to 6-20 and 2-15 in the Big 12.
First Quarter
The Lady Raiders got off to a good start. Taylah Thomas hit a three, Vivian Gray hit a jumper, and center Ella Tofaeono hit a layup to help the Lady Raiders to an early 7-4 lead.
With five minutes left in the first quarter, guard Bryn Gerlich splashed home a three to extend Tech’s lead to a 10-4 advantage.
At the three minute mark, Tofaeono showed off her post moves and completed a three-point play to give Tech a nine point lead.
As the quarter wound down, TCU forward Michelle Berry hit a three to cut Tech’s lead to four. Lexy Hightower would respond by draining a three in the final minutes to give Tech an 18-11 lead.
Second Quarter
The second quarter got off to a slow start as both teams struggled to get to the rim.
With under eight to play in the quarter, the Lady Raiders got the offense going again. Ella Tofaeono and guard Rhyle McKinney scored on back-to-back possessions to give the Lady Raiders a 23-13 lead.
At the three minute mark, TCU guard Lauren Heard got to the line and sank two free throws, cutting the Lady Raider lead to just four. At the two minute mark, Michelle Berry cut Techs lead to two after finishing a transition layup.
Both teams continued going back-and-forth as the second quarter wound down. Vivian Gray hit two baskets in a row to give Tech a 33-27 lead, but TCU guard Tara Manumeleuga hit a three to cut the lead in half.
Gray and McKinney each sank a few free throws before the buzzer, and the Lady Raiders went to the locker room with a 36-30 lead over the Horned Frogs.
Third Quarter
The Lady Raiders came out of the locker room hot. Lexy Hightower hit a three and Ella Tofaeono scored on the very next possession. The TCU offense kept its rhythm too, Michelle Berry and Lauren Heard both hit threes to keep the game close.
Buckets from Bryn Gerlich and Taylah Thomas put the Lady Raiders up nine, but TCU once again responded and closed the gap to five.
At the six minute mark, Vivian Gray hit a wide open three to put the Lady Raider up 48-40.
With under five minutes to play in the quarter, Tech went on a quick 4-0 run to take a 52-42 lead. Forward Chantae Embry scored in the post, and Rhyle McKinney followed it up with a transition bucket.
With just over two minutes remaining in the quarter, TCU guard Aahliyah Jackson hit a three that cut Tech’s lead to 54-49.
In the final minute of the third, TCU managed to tie the game at 57 after converting on a few opportunities from the free throw line. After being down 52-42, TCU outscored the Lady Raiders 15-5 to tie the game heading into the fourth.
Fourth Quarter
TCU took the lead early in the fourth after Lauren Heard drove the lane and scored. Ella Tofaeono answered back quickly for the Lady Raiders by scoring another bucket in the post, tying the game at 59.
With just over six minutes to play, Vivian Gray made a tip-shot out of an inbounds play to put the Lady Raiders up four. After a couple TCU free throws shrank the lead back to two, Gray hit a jumper to help Tech regain a four point advantage.
A possession later, Tofaeono hit another shot from the low post to give the Lady Raiders a 67-61 lead.
With under four minutes to play, the Lady Raiders held a 71-65 lead. Aahliyah Jackson cut that lead in half by sinking a contested three from the wing. Up by four a few possessions later, Rhyle Mckinney sank two free throws to put the Lady Raiders up by six.
A three from TCU guard Okako Adika brought the Horned Frogs back within three with just over a minute to play.
Protecting a two point lead with under a minute to play, Vivian Gray provided the final dagger. Gray converted a three-point play to give the Lady Raiders a five point lead with just nine seconds left.
The Lady Raiders would escape with an 83-79 victory over the Horned Frogs.
Postgame Comments
Vivian Gray said she was just happy to get a win in her final game at United Supermarkets Arena.
“It’s special, being able to play well in my last time in that gym,” Gray said. “I’m really just happy we actually got the win, so that means a lot more to me than how I played.”
Lady Raider head coach Krista Gerlich said she is proud of what the seniors have done in trying to establish a winning culture.
“Our seniors have meant a lot to this program, and I love that they have come in, even if it’s just for a year, and they’ve tried really hard to help us establish the culture and the foundation for what we want to do for Lady Raider basketball.”
Notable Statistics
- Vivian Gray finished with 27 points. Gray has finished with 20 or more points in 13 games this season.
- Ella Tofaeono finished with 15 points for her first double-digit performance since December.
- The Lady Raiders finished with four players in double figures.
- This game saw both teams combine for 52 fouls.
Loading ...