money Texas Tech basketball: Kansas erases 13-point deficit to top Lady Raiders in wild finish
Following the 71-57 loss to Kansas on Jan. 22, Texas Tech women's basketball coach Krista Gerlich called the third quarter one of the worst the team had played.
It was the same story in the rematch Saturday, and this time it cost the Lady Raiders a big lead.
Although Tech was able to overcome the nine-point deficit created by the dreadful second-half start, the Jayhawks made a late stop on Vivian Gray to preserve a 71-68 win in the Big 12 Conference contest Saturday at United Supermarkets Arena.
KU outscored Tech 24-9 in the third quarter to climb out of a 13-point hole. The Jayhawks scored the first seven points of the final frame to build its biggest lead at 56-47.
"That was a tough one," Gerlich said. "Kansas is doing a lot of things right right now. They're playing their best basketball and they're putting themselves in a position to get in the (NCAA) tournament. … But, man, I felt like we really gave it away in the third quarter. We didn't come out of the locker room. …
"It's just unfortunate that the third quarter was so dismal for us."
The Lady Raiders found life with a 12-2 run, with Rhyle McKinney's free throws giving the team a one-point edge. There were six lead changes in the final 2:27, and Tech went up 68-67 with 34 seconds left following an and-1 by Gray. But KU's Holly Kersgieter converted a tough layup on the next possession.
Out of a timeout, the Lady Raiders grinded down the clock until Gray drove the lane. She was met by three Jayhawk defenders, who forced a missed shot.
Gray finished with a game-high 23 points but had only five in the second half on 2-of-12 shooting. Gerlich attributed that in part to tired legs. Gray has played at least 36 minutes in each of the past 12 games.
But KU also made some adjustments after halftime to slow down the all-American, who went for 32 points in the teams' first meeting.
"We started the second half with a guard on her," Jayhawks coach Brandon Schneider said, "and then just tried to keep fresher people on her. That's a tough challenge. She's a helluva player."
Four Jayhawks scored in double figures, led by Taiyanna Jackson's 17. The 6-foot-6 center led the charge for 32 points in the paint.
The team also got a boost from Duncanville grad Aniya Thomas, who had 13 of her 14 points in the second half, including a pair of 3-pointers.
"Aniya's been in a slump," Schneider said. "I just think it's a great example of what can happen if you're tough and resilient and continue to believe in yourself, your coaches and your teammates. She stayed ready and was without question the difference-maker in this win."
It was a cold start for both offenses, but Tech was able to do enough to build a double-digit lead. Behind Gray's 18 points, the Lady Raiders led 38-25 at halftime.
KU shot 29% in the first half, and Tech held its top two scorers to a combined five points. Kersgieter and Zakiyah Franklin, the Jayhawks' only players averaging double digits, had two and three points, respectively, on 1-of-10 shooting. Kersgieter, the team's leading scorer, didn't even attempt a shot until the 3:55 mark of the second quarter.
Kersgieter finished with 10 points, while Franklin had nine.
Ioanna Chatzileonti and Jackson carried the KU offense in the first half, each shooting 4 of 6 and combining for 19 points.
Tech shot 36.4% before halftime but got eight points apiece from Chantae Embry and Lexy Hightower to help take the scoring load off Gray. The Lady Raiders finished with four players in double figures, including McKinney's 11.
What's next?
Tech (10-15 overall, 3-11 conference) will host West Virginia on Wednesday. The Mountaineers, who won the first matchup 64-53, faces No. 14 Texas at home Sunday.
KU (19-5, 10-4) will host No. 6 Iowa State on Wednesday. The Cyclones took on No. 15 Oklahoma late Saturday in a battle of two of the Big 12's best.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech basketball: Kansas erases 13-point deficit to top Lady Raiders
