LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) -The Texas Tech Lady Raiders (25-7) were picked as a No.7 seed in the Sacramento 2 Regional of the 2026 NCAA Tournament and will meet the No.10 seed, Villanova (25-7) out in Baton Rouge, Louisiana for the first round.
“It’s really about soaking up the moment and understanding that what March Madness is all about and what an accomplishment it is to be in the tournament, but also that it’s anybody’s ballgame now,” said Lady Raider head coach Krista Gerlich. “Everybody is trying to bottle up that March Madness and see who can get on the roll and get hot at the right time, and I would say, what I will say to the girls is that I’m living proof of somebody that got it rolling at the right time and we just had fun playing with each other. We loved one another and we just refused to lose and didn’t even think about losing. Actually, we just kept who’s next, you know, and what’s next, and so I think the girls will have that right mindset.”
For Coach Gerlich, this was a breakout season for her tenure as the leader of the Lady Raiders’ basketball program. Texas Tech is making their first appearance in the NCAA tournament since the 2012-13 season.
The Lady Raiders enter the tournament boasting ranked wins over Baylor, who they beat twice, the TCU Horned Frogs, and West Virginia Mountaineers.
It has been a struggle down the stretch for the Lady Raiders as they have went only won 7 out of their last 14 games. One of those losses was in their first game out in Kansas City for the Big 12 Tournament as the Lady Raiders lost to Kansas State 58-51.
As for the team they will be taking on in the first round, Villanova is fresh off of an appearance in the Big East Championship appearance. The Wildcats are led by one of the better scoring guards in the country in Jasmine Bascoe who is averaging 18.8 points per game.
The Lady Raiders’ roster has nine seniors, ranging from transfers Snudda Collins and Denae Fritz to fourth-year guard Bailey Maupin. Coach Gerlich says this senior leadership has made a difference in this year’s success.
“I think we started four sophomores, and one thing that I’ve learned since the transfer portal is that we have to stay old, and that group turned into juniors last year. We made a run at the end, and then the kids that we retained have led us through that,” Gerlich said. “Bailey Maupin has definitely been a huge part of that, and she understood the vision and has believed in it, and so it’s just so awesome for it to come full circle and for us to continue to make that progress and continue to climb. There’s nothing about getting in the NCAA tournament that’s easy.”
UCLA is the number one seed in the tournament and in the Sacramento 2 Region.
Texas Tech and Villanova are set to play Friday, March 20.
The other matchup has 2nd seeded LSU facing off against Jacksonville.
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