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<\/p>\nGritty, not pretty.<\/p>\n
Less than 48 hours after winning 82-51 at Washington State Friday Night, Texas Tech made the quick trip back to Texas to grind out a whistle-heavy 67\u201357 win over Abilene Christian on Sunday in Odessa. The Lady Raiders improved to 12\u20130 ahead of their final non-conference game on Wednesday. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe just found a way,\u201d head coach Krista Gerlich said afterward. \u201cIt was ugly. We kind of needed one of those where you just have to grind it out. We just had to find a way.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stat Leaders<\/p>\n
Bailey Maupin \u2013 14 pts, 5 reb, 3 ast, 1 stl<\/p>\n
Jada Malone \u2013 14 pts, 3 reb, 1 stl<\/p>\n
Denae Fritz \u2013 10 pts, 3 reb, 3 stl, 2 blk, 1 ast<\/p>\n
Jalynn Bristow \u2013 8 pts, 9 reb, 3 blk<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Despite trailing after the first quarter for only the second time all season, Texas Tech steadied itself in the third quarter and found separation late when they switched to a 1\u20133\u20131 zone that immediately disrupted ACU\u2019s rhythm. The change produced two steals and transition layups by Sidney Love, allowing Texas Tech to push the lead to 12 points.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe changed our defense up right there,\u201d head coach Krista Gerlich said. \u201cCoach Walters made a great call. It caught them off guard, and we were able to get a couple of easy buckets that gave us momentum.\u201d<\/p>\n
That momentum was a nice flash of how this team usually looks, showing how quickly they can go on runs when their defense is not disrupted by whistles. Prior to that burst it was a very stop and start half with ACU taking advantage of Tech\u2019s inability to guard without fouling.<\/p>\n
Asked what her halftime message to the team was, Gerlich said simply:<\/p>\n
\u201cStop fouling.\u201d<\/p>\n
Seven different Lady Raiders had two fouls by the time the first half ended and ACU found their way to the line 26 times. <\/p>\n
\u201cThey can\u2019t shoot 26 free throws in the first half,\u201d Gerlich said. \u201cOur defense has to adjust, and we have to defend one-on-one better.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Lady Raiders carried that adjustment into the second half. While the game remained a grind at times, Texas Tech played with greater composure defensively, holding the Wildcats to only 9 free throws.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought we were very chaotic early,\u201d Gerlich said. \u201cWe can play fast and disrupt, but we have to be in control.\u201d<\/p>\n
Offensively, Texas Tech leaned into its interior advantage. Jada Malone, named the Lady Raider Dominator of the Game, was perfect from the field, finishing 6-for-6 to score 14 points as Texas Tech totaled 40 of its 67 points in the paint.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe knew we\u2019d have an advantage with her,\u201d Gerlich said. \u201cShe\u2019s a Power Four post player with great hands and I thought our kids did a great job of finding her.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Lady Raiders shot 50.9 percent from the field, overcoming a 6-for-20 performance from three-point range. Helping that was steady performances from the team\u2019s senior captains, as Bailey Maupin added 14 points and Denae Fritz provided another all-around effort on both ends. In total, three Lady Raiders reached double figures, and 9 of the 10 players who entered the game scored.<\/p>\n
Defensively, despite the fouls Texas Tech held ACU 20 points below their scoring average of 77.9 a game and only allowed 14 total made field goals. Conversely, the Wildcats defense that came in top 20 in the nation at forcing 23 turnovers per game only managed to get 15 from Tech. It may not have been pretty or easy, but in the end the numbers didn\u2019t look all that bad as long as you squint and avert your eyes from the free throw and foul columns. Always better to learn in a win than a loss and Texas Tech will have plenty to learn from this heading into their final non-conference game of the year on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we needed that,\u201d Gerlich said. \u201cWe needed some adversity. We needed to push through fatigue and just find a way.\u201d<\/p>\n
Up Next: vs. Jacksonville 11:30 am in Lubbock 11\/17 \u2013 Education Day<\/p>\n
Texas Tech now turns its attention to its final non-conference game, hosting Jacksonville on Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. in Lubbock for the program\u2019s annual Education Day game, with a sellout crowd expected. The Dolphins enter the game 7-2 coming off a loss to No. 8 TCU on Sunday in which they trailed by only seven at half before the Horned Frogs broke it open in the second half to win 89-49.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going from a 1,500-seat gym to a 15,000-seat arena full of screaming kids\u2014it\u2019s going to be a great environment. Jacksonville is a really good, athletic team, so we\u2019re going to have to control the basketball and be disciplined.\u201d<\/p>\n
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