Núñez and Bristow Shine in Lady Raiders’ Season-Opening Win

It was a night of debuts. A debut for the 2025–26 Texas Tech Lady Raiders, a debut for new point guard Gemma Núñez and perhaps a reintroduction for Jalynn Bristow whose breakout performance, including career highs in three categories, surprised no one.

Texas Tech’s 78–40 win over defending CAA champion North Carolina A&T wasn’t perfect, but it revealed plenty about what this veteran laden team hopes to be this season.

“It was just really good to see our girls on the court in front of our crowd,” Gerlich said. “I think they saw an exciting brand of basketball and a couple of really good players have some record nights against a really good team.”

Gemma Núñez Looks Right at Home

Gemma Núñez | Shelby Hilliard, RedRaiderSports

If there were any first-game nerves, Núñez never showed them. The senior transfer from Campbell ran the offense with poise, controlled the tempo and anchored Tech’s full-court press. Her presence was instantaneous, making a pass on the first offensive possession that led to Bristow free throws followed by her joining with Bristow on a trap in the press to force a jump ball. She was everywhere and finished with 15 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals – a stat line that looked like it came from someone who’s been in this system for years, not weeks.

That’s a product of her dedication. Núñez turned down an invitation to join Spain’s 3×3 national team this summer, choosing instead to move to Lubbock and integrate with her new teammates. Even though she wasn’t eligible to compete with the Lady Raiders at the World University Games in Germany she still wanted to take part in the practices all summer. That time together paid off.

“It was a great opportunity for me to see how the team worked, how Coach wanted to run the offense, the defense and everything,” Núñez said. “Just being on the sideline and watching how they did it helped a lot. And now this preseason, being able to contribute on the court — just doing whatever the team needs me to do to win.”

The familiarity showed against an opponent she knew well. Having spent the past three years in the CAA, Núñez faced North Carolina A&T multiple times, even scoring her season high against them last year. She looked just as comfortable in new colors.

“Really proud of Gemma and just her floor leadership,” Gerlich said. “She really controlled the game on both ends of the floor. The pace that she pushes on offense is going to help us tremendously throughout the year.”

A former All-CAA Defensive Team selection, Núñez’s defensive instincts were on full display in her debut. She led all players with four steals, routinely jumping passing lanes and setting the tone for Tech’s press.

“I think it’s so fun for us, but also for the people in the stands to watch us get steals and having that pressure on them,” Núñez said. “I think it’s just so fun. And I love it.”

This was something Bristow echoed herself, noting the chemistry she and Núñez, as well as the rest of the guards, have already built in the press.

“I love it,” Bristow said. “I love being at the top. It’s really fun to trap, and especially having Gemma up there now – it’s like she knows exactly what I’m thinking. You know, if there needs to be adjustments made, she can always tell me. Coach can always see what she sees from the sideline too. So I think it’s really fun to have a little bunch of quick and athletic guards out there with me.”

Bristow’s Breakout That Everyone Saw Coming

Jalynn Bristow | Shelby Hilliard, RedRaiderSports

A year ago, Jalynn Bristow was working to carve out her role. On Monday, she announced herself as the player everyone around the program has been expecting to see.

Bristow posted 19 points, 9 rebounds and 7 blocks, all career highs, while committing only three fouls – a marked improvement from foul trouble that limited her minutes at times last season. The near-triple-double drew laughs postgame as Gerlich told her, “You’re leading the nation in blocks right now… it’ll be a little while before anybody catches you.”

When asked what clicked this offseason, Bristow pointed to both structure and family. While her head coach emphasized confidence gained from the work put in this offseason, Bristow herself was more direct.

“It really was just working on really focusing and locking in on exactly the shots and looks that are in our offense,” Bristow said. “So definitely getting to work on those with Coach Ketara [Chapel] helped a lot.”

She also credited her time working with her mom and brother over the offseason. Perhaps not as impactful for some athletes but having a former college basketball player as a parent and a 6’10 brother in Keitenn Bristow who plays for Alabama adds quite the training ground element to family one-on-ones.

“My mom had us out there all summer,” she added. “She’s big on us guarding each other no matter how tall or strong — no fouls, just one-on-one.”

It was only one game but it was almost a casual triple double effort for the junior who showed what she can do both in the paint defensively and at all three levels on offense.

“You saw some glimpses of Jalynn being able to put up some big numbers,” Gerlich said. “She had a career night in all three categories: 19, nine, and seven, and that’s just the start.”

How it Happened

Denae Fritz | Shelby Hilliard, RedRaiderSports

The Lady Raiders’ night as a whole followed its own rhythm. Texas Tech jumped out to a 20–5 first-quarter lead behind a defense that didn’t allow a score until mid-way through the quarter and crisp ball movement on offense. As you’d expect of the reigning CAA champs and preseason picks to win it all again this year, however, NC A&T responded in the second quarter by throwing out matchup zones and disguised defenses that forced Tech into rushed shots and sloppy spacing.

“I actually thought that we were rushing the three ball in the first half,” Gerlich said. “A&T did a really good job of changing defenses on us, especially when their big girl got in foul trouble. So they went more to a zone, but it kind of looked like a box-in-one at times when they were face-guarding Gemma.”

After scoring just 13 points in the second quarter, Tech regrouped at halftime and exploded for 29 in the third — more than they scored in any single quarter all of last season, according to the Texas Tech Sports Network radio broadcast.

“I think we got after them a little bit at halftime and and I think that they listened to what we were telling them,” said Gerlich. “I thought that just on their three point shooting their feet were set. They took their time, they made the extra pass to be able to get those looks and their defensive intensity was a lot better as well.”

The Lady Raiders forced 22 turnovers, turned them into 20 fast-break points, and scored 34 points in the paint. They put up 20 or more in the first and third quarters but less than 20 in the second and fourth — early signs that stamina and rotation rhythm will be a storyline to watch as the season unfolds.

Everything Else

Bailey Maupin nearly opened the season with a triple-double: 11 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists.

Snudda Collins, playing her first game in more than a year, scored 13 of her 15 points in the second half.

Denae Fritz hit three threes (3-8) to lead the team in that category and added 11 points.

Five different players scored in double figures for the Lady Raiders (Bristow, Núñez, Maupin, Collins and Fritz) and five different players had at least five rebounds (Bristow, Sanogo, Núñez, Maupin, Collins.)

Texas Tech shot 44% from the field, outrebounded A&T 45–37, and more than doubled the pregame analytic spread (Tech by 19). The largest lead reached 40.

What’s Next: Home Vs. UTSA 11/6 at 6pm

Sara Sanogo | Shelby Hilliard, RedRaiderSports

Texas Tech continues their opening week with another game against a reigning conference champion as the UTSA Roadrunners come to town on Thursday night. Game time set for 6pm at the United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock. BE THERE!

“I would like to see our offensive flow get better,” Gerlich said of what she wants this team to keep working on over these non-conference games ahead. “You know, we turned the ball over so much last year — actually, the last two years — that we really want to focus on valuing possessions, and I think we did a better job of that tonight, but 14 is still too many.”

Photo Gallery: Texas Tech vs. North Carolina A&T Women’s Basketaball

Gemma Núñez | Shelby Hilliard, RedRaiderSports