Bryn Gerlich and Katie Ferrell watch the player introductions. (Photo by Andrew Watters) 
The High Riders drop streamers down for the “Pink Out” game. (Photo by Andrew Watters) 
Coach Gerlich gets frustrated following a foul call. (Photo by Andrew Watters) 
Bre’Amber Scott goes up for a layup. (Photo by Andrew Watters) 
Bailey Maupin shoots for three. (Photo by Andrew Watters) 
Bre’Amber Scott celebrates after making a layup and one. (Photo by Andrew Watters) 
Bryn Gerlich goes up for two. (Photo by Andrew Watters) 
(From Left) Bryn Gerlich, Rhyle McKinney, and Bailey Maupin put their guns up during the Matador Song following the 78-67 loss to Kansas. (Photo by Andrew Watters)
The Texas Tech Lady Raiders hosted Kansas in a special pink-out game in honor of breast cancer awareness. In what was a close matchup for most of the game, the Jayhawks pulled away in the fourth quarter to come away with a 78-67 win over the Lady Raiders.
Tech dropped to 4-8 in Big 12 play while the Jayhawks improved to 6-6.
First quarter
After Kansas star center Taiyanna Jackson gave the Jayhawks an early 5-0 lead, the Lady Raiders settled in and started making shots. Bryn Gerlich and Bre’Amber Scott, two of the Lady Raiders’ top scorers, both hit threes to help Tech keep pace in the first few minutes. Both Gerlich and Scott would finish with 18 points.
Later in the quarter, Kansas guard Holly Kersgieter hit a three to give Kansas an 18-14 lead at the end of the first. Kersgieter and Jackson would be a problem for the Lady Raiders all game, Kergiester finished the game shooting four-for-seven from three. Jackson would finish with a 24-point double-double.
Second quarter
The Jayhawks again started a quarter with some hot shooting. Kersgieter hit a three to cap a 6-2 Kansas run. Down 28-22 later in the quarter, Gerlich hit her second three of the day to cut the deficit to three.
To end the half, both teams shot the lights out from beyond the arc. A three from Tech guard Tatum Veitenheimer was answered by another Kersgieter triple, but freshman guard Bailey Maupin responded with a three of her own to cut the Kansas lead to one.
The Lady Raiders went into the halftime locker room down 38-37.
Third Quarter
Kansas began the second half with a 9-3 run to go up 47-40 early in the third thanks to Key baskets from Jackson and Kergieter.
Once again, it was the three ball that helped the Lady Raiders keep pace. Maupin and Gerlich each hit threes to cut the deficit to just three late in the quarter, but back-to-back layups from Kansas at the end of the quarter gave the Jayhawks a 54-47 lead heading into the fourth.
Fourth Quarter
To begin the fourth, it was the Lady Raiders that went on an early run. Bre’Amber Scott scored four straight points to make it just a four-point deficit.
Midway through the quarter, Scott drilled her second three of the game to keep the game at a four-point difference. Down 60-56, the Lady Raiders had a chance to go on a run and take the lead, but the Jayhawks went on a 10-5 run to effectively seal the game before the final minute.
Kansas cashed in on some free throws down the stretch and cruised the rest of the way to a 78-67 win over Tech.
Postgame comments
Lady Raider head coach Krista Gerlich said she was proud of how hard her team played, but it seemed every big shot was canceled by a defensive lapse.
“It seemed like when we would hit a big shot, we would have a defensive lapse,” Gerlich said. “I remember one possession in particular, I think we cut it [the lead] to three or two or something and we just lost Holly [Kersgieter] on the three-point line.”
Gerlich said the team has a lot of young talent that can become special players in the future, but she still wants to see success now.
“I think these freshmen are learning so much, and I think it just shows how bright our future is,” Gerlich said. “I’m excited about our future, I just want there to be some success this year for this group, because this group is super special to me.”
Up Next
The Lady Raiders will be on the road to take on Oklahoma on Wednesday.
Loading ...