January 08, 2011

Kansas Loses Big 12 Opener, 61-57, to Texas Tech

Jan. 8, 2011

Postgame Videos Coach Henrickson | Sutherland | Davis | Goodrich

Box Score in PDF Format

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

Despite a game-high 17 points from junior Aishah Sutherland and sophomore Carolyn Davis’ third consecutive double-double, Kansas women’s basketball lost its Big 12 opener against Texas Tech, 61-57, in Allen Fieldhouse Saturday night.

Kansas fell to 13-2 after dropping its fifth-consecutive Big 12 opener. The loss also ended KU’s 12-game homecourt winning streak dating back to last season. Texas Tech improved to 14-1 overall and 1-0 in Big 12 play with the victory.

Senior Teena Wickett and junior Kierra Mallard led the Lady Raiders with 15 points apiece. Mallard also added 11 rebounds for her third-straight double-double and her fifth of the season. Sophomore Monique Smalls scored 10 points, including the game-tying layup with 56 seconds remaining in the game.

With 19 seconds remaining, Texas Tech sophomore Chynna Brown made a right-handed layup to put the Lady Raiders ahead, 59-57; their first lead since 14:40 remaining in the first half.

Four minutes into the second half, Texas Tech used a 10-0 run in a span of 1:41 to cut KU’s lead to five points, 44-39. Two minutes later, Texas Tech began a 7-0 run over a four-minute stretch to pull within one, 52-51, with 6:16 remaining in the game. Wickett had nine of the Lady Raiders’ 17 points in the two combined runs.

A three-pointer by freshman Keena Mays and a 17-foot jumper by Sutherland on back-to-back possessions extended Kansas’ lead to six entering the final five minutes, but those were the final points for KU, as Texas Tech closed the game on a 10-0 run to claim its 12th-straight victory over the Jayhawks.

In the final 10 minutes of the game, Kansas shot 2-for-13 from the field, only scoring five points while committing five turnovers. Meanwhile, Texas Tech closed the game shooting 6-for-10 from the field and 5-for-7 from the free throw line during that same span.

Texas Tech won the rebounding battle, 43-32, which included 15 offensive boards. The Lady Raiders also outscored Kansas in the paint, 42-26.

After falling behind, 7-2, in the first three minutes, Kansas outscored Texas Tech, 21-2, for a period of 8:47, holding the Lady Raiders without a field goal the entire time. During that span, four different Jayhawks – Sutherland, Davis, sophomore Monica Engelman and freshman Diara Moore – had four points each. A three-pointer by freshman Tania Jackson and two free throws by Mays rounded out KU’s scoring during the dominating run.

After an 8-0 run by the Lady Raiders cut Kansas’ lead to 27-21, the Jayhawks scored five unanswered points in less than a minute to reclaim their double-digit advantage, 32-21, with 2:22 remaining in the first half. Kansas took a nine-point lead into the break, 34-25.

Kansas shot 48.1 percent from the field the first half while holding Texas Tech to 28.9 percent. Eight of KU’s 13 made field goals during the first half were layups, including the team’s first six two-point baskets. KU also committed only five turnovers in the first 20 minutes while recording six assists on the team’s 13 made field goals.

Kansas will play its first Big 12 road game of the season Wednesday when it takes on Colorado at 8 p.m. Central. The game will be televised live on FSN-RockyMountain.