Are They Different? Texas Tech Answers Again in 76–40 Win Over Jacksonville

Everyone wants to know: are the Lady Raiders different? Texas Tech head coach Krista Gerlich has probably answered that question once a week for the past month.

The answers are layered, but on Wednesday, in front of the largest Education Day crowd in school history and the program’s first sellout since 2006, Texas Tech gave fans another clear one.

Shots not falling from deep? No sweat.

“We had a lot of open looks in the first half that just weren’t going down,” head coach Krista Gerlich said. “I want to credit our kids for not getting frustrated and not hanging their heads.”

Previous roster constructions felt very live and die by the three, in fact last season Texas Tech shot 57.7 percent at the rim, nearly four percent below the Power Conference average. On nights when the three wasn’t falling at a high rate, winning – even against non-Power opponents – was a grind.

Wednesday despite shooting just 3-for-24 (12.5%) from three, Texas Tech rolled to a 76–40 win over Jacksonville (7-3), a Dolphins team with a road win at Georgia Tech and only losses coming to Florida and TCU.

The reason? Aside from their dominant defense of course – Tech went 26-for-27 on layups. Something that was intentional, from the construction of the team… to the halftime adjustments.

“We told them to start getting to the rim more,” Gerlich said. “You’ll start getting more in a groove.”

The Lady Raiders did exactly that, attacking downhill to open the third quarter and never letting Jacksonville back into the game.

Denae Fritz embodied the shift. The senior captain scored 10 of her 14 points in the fourth quarter, going a perfect 4-for-4 from the field over the final 10 minutes.

“Obviously the three ball wasn’t going in for me, or any of us, really,” Fritz said. “I just knew I needed to get to the rim more and see the ball go through the hoop.”

A one-off lucky to escape game? No. Texas Tech is now shooting 66 percent at the rim this season, nearly a 10 percent increase from a year ago.

“No doubt that was part of the roster construction,” Gerlich said. “We’ve recruited to our system. We have players who can score at all three levels. Having an inside presence balances our offense.”

Sarengbe “Sara” Sanogo broke through in a major way to help those numbers, scoring a career-high 14 points on 7-of-8 shooting in just under 13 minutes. Perhaps she was feeling a little extra boost after the team played in Odessa Sunday in Tech’s neutral-site win over ACU, a gym where she once starred as a JUCO All-American.

“It was amazing to go back and play at Odessa because this is where I was in JUCO,” Sanogo said. “I got to see people I know from over there, and it reminded me why I’m playing basketball and why I love playing basketball.”

Even a causal milestone moment from Bailey Maupin fit the theme. The senior guard crossed 1,500 career points, moving into 10th place all-time in program history. A historic moment and it’s Sanogo and Fritz getting the postgame podium praise not Maupin, a note that underscored the balance and chemistry of the team.

“I think this team is really connected,” Gerlich said. “It’s really nice to have that type of balance. And the kids don’t care. The kids just want to win. So they’re going to go to whoever’s got the hot hand or whoever’s got the mismatch or however the game is flowing at that time.“

What’s Next: At No. 15 Baylor Sunday, 12/21 3pm

Texas Tech closed non-conference play 13–0, its first undefeated non-conference run under Gerlich and now turn their attention to Big 12 play as they travel to Waco for a matchup with No. 15 Baylor on Sunday.

“I clearly get that we have to prove it to people, but at the same time, like, jump on board and come help us, right? Because it takes all of us to get it done. So if you believe in us, you know, I think that will go a long ways.“

Fans will have a chance to do exactly that, with a fan bus traveling to Waco for Sunday’s matchup, giving Raider Nation an opportunity to help set the tone as Texas Tech begins its Big 12 slate. Anyone interested in joining the fan bus can find more information here.

Photo Gallery: Texas Tech vs. Jacksonville Women’s Basketball