WBB: Texas Tech rolls through TCU in regular-season home finale; Ferrell gets block No. 100

In the last two home games preceding Wednesday, Texas Tech women’s basketball lost a triple-overtime heartbreaker on senior day Feb. 18, and they slowly rallied from 17 points down to beat West Virginia in a tough double-overtime victory Feb. 22.

For the home finale, though, with the worst team in the Big 12 coming to town, the Lady Raiders (18-12, 6-11 Big 12) decided they wanted to go home a little earlier as they rolled through the TCU Horned Frogs (7-21, 1-16 Big 12) 66-49 Wednesday at the United Supermarkets Arena.

Katie Ferrell was getting it done in multiple ways with a team-leading six assists along with four rebounds, five points, a steal and three blocks. Those three blocks got her to 100 career blocks in a career where she has stuffed the stat sheet in more ways than one.

She said playing in front of the fans and for her Tech teammates was an honor this year.

“I love them to death, and then obviously to play with coach [Gerlich] again,” Ferrell said, “it’s just very humbling and a great experience and something I’ll cherish for the rest of my life.”

Gerlich said they knew Ferrell would give Tech grit and toughness, and she really can’t explain what it means to have her.

She mentioned how they wouldn’t have won the West Virginia game without her forcing a jump ball late, for example, and tonight, she got elbowed in the head hard at the end of the first quarter and cried, which Gerlich said she’s not sure she’s ever seen Ferrell cry.

Ferrell was back in at the start of the second quarter, and Gerlich said she’s so glad that Lady Raider Nation got to meet her.

Bailey Maupin was firing in the first half with eight points to lead all scorers at that point, helping Tech to outscore TCU 21-7 in the second quarter to get a 19-point lead at the half that Tech didn’t let go of.

Bre’Amber Scott, who finished with 18 points, was big in keeping them ahead with eight of Tech’s 12 third-quarter points even as the TCU offense found their groove late.

Scott said playing at Tech was “life-changing” and gave her so many opportunities as the fanbase and staff are so important to her.

“[The fanbase] has supported us since day one ever since I’ve been here, and the staff here has just changed my life so much more than y’all will ever know,” Scott said. “So I’m always grateful and appreciative for them and everything they have done for me.”

Gerlich said it was a great overall win as they had great energy and settled into the second quarter on their way to victory, pointing to Ferrell and Scott next to her as players that really put the team on their back in what very well may be their last game at the United Supermarkets Arena.

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Bryn Gerlich, who is third on the team in points per game (9.2) and first in assists per game (3.2), was not playing for Texas Tech on Wednesday. Krista Gerlich said it’s day-to-day when she’ll be back on the court.

Tech still has one regular-season game before the Big 12 tournament in Kansas City.

The Lady Raiders will play Cheryl Miller award finalist Ashley Joens and No. 23 Iowa State on the road, a team they haven’t had much success against lately. Iowa State has beaten Tech five straight times, all by at least 16 points.

Scott has had a magnificent year scoring just under 18 points per game, and in Big 12 play, she’s averaged just under 20 points per game only behind Joens.

Last year, she only played eight games when she missed the first nine games due to a preseason foot injury, then reaggravated it and was forced to have season-ending surgery. She was asked about the legacy she wants to leave at Texas Tech.

“Someone who has fought through and struggles through adversity, but didn’t let that get them down to a certain extent,” Scott said, “and just someone who continues to rise up, plays hard and is going to give everything that she has.”