{"id":107263,"date":"2026-01-01T07:51:40","date_gmt":"2026-01-01T07:51:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/107263\/"},"modified":"2026-01-01T07:51:40","modified_gmt":"2026-01-01T07:51:40","slug":"bristow-finds-her-rhythm-as-no-21-texas-tech-beats-ucf-on-new-years-eve","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/107263\/","title":{"rendered":"Bristow Finds Her Rhythm as No. 21 Texas Tech Beats UCF on New Year\u2019s Eve"},"content":{"rendered":"

No. 21 Texas Tech closed out 2025 the same way it has handled everyone else this season: with defense and balanced scoring. Wasn\u2019t perfect but their record is as they moved to 15-0 on the season and 2-0 in conference in front of over 5,000 Red Raider faithful on New Year\u2019s Eve.<\/p>\n

The night in many ways belonged to Jalynn Bristow, who poured in 21 points for her third 20-point game of the season but her first since early November. More than the number, it was how she looked doing it. Bristow played with confidence, rhythm and decisiveness, a welcome sight as conference play ramps up. She also crossed the 500-career-point mark in the process.<\/p>\n

\u201cI got some rest, hung out with family, and had a second to gather my thoughts about basketball,\u201d Bristow said postgame about how she used the Christmas break to reset. \u201cJust the stuff I need to do better, especially mentally. Holding my follow-through like Coach and my mom say all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n

That reset showed throughout the night. Bristow scored at all three levels, knocked down timely threes, and looked comfortable letting the game come to her.<\/p>\n

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Head coach Krista Gerlich followed up it wasn\u2019t solely rest that got her there though wanting to give her young star credit for putting in work over the break as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe got in the gym,\u201d Gerlich said. \u201cShe got some rest, but she also got in the gym with her mom and got shots up. Shooters go through that, and it was really good to see her get that payoff tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

While Bristow provided the scoring punch, Gemma N\u00fa\u00f1ez controlled everything else. From the opening possession to the final horn, N\u00fa\u00f1ez dictated pace, organized the offense and helped anchor the defensive effort. She finished with 11 points and eight assists (no turnovers) while setting the tone on both ends of the floor.<\/p>\n

Asked postgame how she stays so composed while running the offense, N\u00fa\u00f1ez kept it simple.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t overthink it,\u201d she said. \u201cWe\u2019ve been working a lot on our pace and being under control. My focus is giving my teammates the right looks and putting them in position to score. I just play basketball.\u201d<\/p>\n

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That defensive identity continues to define this group. With the win, Texas Tech improved to 15-0 overall and 2-0 in Big 12 play and has now held all 15 opponents this season below their scoring average.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh yeah, for sure,\u201d N\u00fa\u00f1ez said. \u201cWe talk about defense a lot. We want it to be our identity. We take a lot of pride in it, but we still want to get better.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Lady Raiders alslo fed off the energy in the building. A New Year\u2019s Eve crowd of 5,226 showed up loud and engaged. Before the game, fans told me they drove in from Odessa, Amarillo and Midland to spend their holiday with the Lady Raiders, a detail that resonated when it was shared with West Texas native herself Bristow afterward.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt means a lot for someone to come spend their holiday watching Lady Raiders basketball,\u201d she said. \u201cThat\u2019s something my family would do, so seeing other families choose to do that too is really special.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beyond the headliners, Texas Tech got strong complementary efforts across the board. Snudda Collins provided energy and scoring off the bench, Bailey Maupin hit timely shots and Denae [De]Fritz helped spearhead a defensive effort that made life difficult for UCF\u2019s Leah Harmon for most of the night.<\/p>\n

\u201cDenae\u2019s defensive presence really goes unnoticed a lot of the time,\u201d said Gerlich postgame. \u201cShe guarded their best player for 31 minutes, played 94 feet the entire game, and did it effectively. There are a lot of things she does defensively that don\u2019t show up on the stat sheet.\u201d<\/p>\n

The third quarter wasn\u2019t as crisp as this team would like but they showed their toughness. And if they needed any reminder, that\u2019s something that isn\u2019t going unnoticed by their opponents either. <\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re playing unbelievably physical,\u201d said UCF head coach Sytia Messer. \u201cTheir defense is as good as I\u2019ve seen and I\u2019ve been in the Big 12 a long time as a head coach and an assistant previously at Baylor. So I would say their defensive end has been much better than what I\u2019ve seen in the past, and what a great job that the coaching staff has done here at Tech.\u201d<\/p>\n

New Year\u2019s Surprise Ahead?<\/p>\n

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And as the calendar flips, there may be more than just a new year on the horizon. Gerlich hinted to the crowd after the game that \u201cthey are going into the New Year feeling seven feet tall.\u201d<\/p>\n

A mid-season roster addition ahead? Trust you\u2019ll want to stay tuned for this one. Asked if she wanted to speak on this further postgame Gerlich said:<\/p>\n

\u201cKeep a close eye on social media in the next 24 hours, we\u2019ve got a really great New Year\u2019s surprise.\u201d<\/p>\n

New Year\u2019s Eve win. New Year\u2019s Day surprise. Lady Raider Nation will hopefully not have to wait long to find out.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s Next: vs Arizona 1\/3 6pm in Lubbock<\/p>\n

Texas Tech will be right back at United Supermarkets Arena on Saturday, hosting Arizona at 6 p.m. in a Big 12 matchup that caps a doubleheader with the men\u2019s team, who face Oklahoma State at noon. Tickets are on sale for New Year\u2019s as low as $7.<\/p>\n

Gerlich cautioned that Arizona is not a team that ever goes away, regardless of the score.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey never quit,\u201d Gerlich said. \u201cThey\u2019ve been in games that got away from them and still found a way to make it really interesting at the end. We\u2019re going to have to be ready for that and make sure if we separate, we don\u2019t let them back in it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Photo Gallery: No. 21 Texas Tech vs UCF Women\u2019s Basketball<\/p>\n

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