LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – After a (19-0) start to this season, the No. 7-seeded Lady Raiders 2025-26 magic season continues as they beat the No. 10-seeded Villanova Wildcats 57-52 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Friday night.<\/p>\n
While the Big 12 Tournament did not go as planned as they fell 58-51 to Kansas State in their first game, Head Coach Krista Gerlich made it clear that her team grew from that experience.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe spent a lot of time on Lady Raiders basketball and just making sure that we feel really good about what we do, because I do think that\u2019s super important that you don\u2019t try to get too specific about who you\u2019re playing and you\u2019ve got to do what got you here, and so we took some time to really shoot the basketball and kind of get back in a rhythm,\u201d said Lady Raiders Head Coach Krista Gerlich. \u201cSo I think they\u2019re really prepared for this opportunity to play in the NCAA tournament.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Lady Raiders received a balanced performance from multiple players on the roster Friday night. Texas Tech has nine different players record points in their five point win.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverybody is trying to bottle up that March Madness and see who can get on the roll and get hot at the right time,\u201d said Gerlich. \u201cWe just had fun playing with each other, we loved one another, and we just refused to lose and didn\u2019t even think about losing. \u201d<\/p>\n
Now the Lady Raiders will turn toward their next matchup on Sunday as they will play the No. 2-seeded LSU Tigers.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re not going to play an easy opponent in the NCAA tournament so we\u2019re going to have to really be prepared,\u201d said Gerlich. \u201cWe\u2019re going to have to really rely on what got us here, and that\u2019s our defense.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Tigers are fresh off of a first round win over Jacksonville 116-58 on Friday. The Lady Raiders will look to slow down LSU\u2019s momentum when the two teams meet up in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on Sunday.<\/p>\n
No. 7-seeded Texas Tech will face No.2-seeded LSU 2 p.m. Sunday on ABC and on the Texas Tech Radio Network. <\/p>\n
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