Texas Tech women’s basketball surged to an opening night victory Monday against North Carolina A&T State University 78-40, with 20 first-quarter points aiding the blowout.
The Lady Raiders came out of the gates in a full-court press, with guards switching off on double-team duty for all Lady Aggies attempting to dribble outside the box from baseline to baseline.
Tech continued to press on the majority of plays, but abandoned the double-team assignments midway through the first quarter.
“Sometimes you wonder if you’re pressing the whole game, if they’re really bought into it,” said Krista Gerlich, Tech head coach. “This group is.”
North Carolina A&T didn’t record a point until Tech was already up 10-0. It wasn’t until the final three minutes of the second quarter that North Carolina A&T crested double-digit points. Tech was up by 19 points by then.
Although down, the margin could have been significantly larger had Tech landed on its long-range baskets. The Lady Aggies played aggressively on the perimeter, limiting Texas Tech to seven three-pointers on 28 attempts.
“I actually thought that we were rushing the three-ball in the first half,” Gerlich said. “I think that they did at did a really good job of changing defenses on us, especially when their big girl got in foul trouble.”
However, by forcing Tech into the paint, the Lady Raiders were able to draw a pair of fouls in the first two minutes and 19 by the end of the night. The free throws contributed to 15 points.
Redshirt senior center Chaniya Clark, who was responsible for the first two fouls called against the Lady Aggies, became the team’s centerpiece in the second half despite being in foul trouble. She accounted for one made basket, but she possessed the ball often enough to take five trips to the free throw line on a 7-for-10 success rate.
Her effort didn’t matter in the end result because three Lady Raiders had reached double-digit scoring midway through the third quarter. Tech junior guard/forward Jalynn Bristow finished the evening with a team-leading 19 points and seven blocks.
“I think Jalynn really committed herself this summer to being a great basketball player,” Gerlich said. “I think she was not satisfied with the way her sophomore year went.”
The Lady Raiders will return to the United Supermarkets Arena at 6 p.m. Thursday to face the University of Texas, San Antonio.