Congrats to the Lady Techsters!
Great Win!
Cheryl Ford, bad ankle, 24 points, 16 rebounds.
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Congrats to the Lady Techsters!
Great Win!
Cheryl Ford, bad ankle, 24 points, 16 rebounds.
Pretty impressive debut for the Budke era.
Tech's front line looks very good. Ford is really starting to play to her potential (and does look a bit like her dad out there) and Frierson appears to be back. Both good signs. Not sure what the depth is there. Seemed like TTech came back when one or the other of them was out -- but had trouble keeping track of who was who -- since the announcers only wanted to talk about 3-4 players (Ford, Pierson, Gray and Frierson). Tech needs to switch to white letters on those jerseys -- couldn't read names unless the
camera did a very close close-up. Regardless, thought Tech's rebounding and interior defense were the keys to this win.
Guards look better than they have for a while. Obaze seems to be coming into her own -- especially not being stuck with point duties. And I want to know why Erica Smith wasn't on the court all the time last year -- she's a big improvement. Point guard needs work, but they were solid -- limiting a very good freshman guard in Gray for most of the game.
I liked the patience on offense. I liked the rebounding and the EFFORT (especially after watching Takeisha Lewis sleepwalk through a lot of last year). Even solid shooting from everywhere but far outside. No 3-point shooting, which could be a factor when they play a bombing team, but this looks like a pretty good team.
Huge win! and much needed for we Tech fans.
Although Texas Tech is over-rated at 7th, they are still a quality club. I was pleased with Ford and Frierson, and very much thrilled by our guard-play!
Congrats Coach Budke and Techsters!
Louisiana Tech 85, Texas Tech 76
RUSTON, LOUISIANA (TICKER) -- The Kurt Budke era began with a bang as Cheryl Ford totaled 24 points and 15 rebounds, leading 15th-ranked Louisiana Tech to a season-opening 85-76 victory over No. 7 Texas Tech.
Budke took over for legendary Louisiana Tech coach Leon Barmore and watched his team post in impressive win in his debut, defeating a club many think could be a national title contender.
Barmore retired with the best winning percentage in women's college basketball history (.869), posting a 576-87 record. Budke was his top assistant.
Ford, the Lady Techsters' center, dominated the paint, going 10-of-15 from the field. Starting forward Trina Frierson helped with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
Erica Smith added 17 points and Amber Obaze chipped in 13 for Louisiana Tech (1-0), which held a 45-37 edge off the glass and hit 26-of-31 free throws. The Techsters shot 47 percent from the field (29-of-68).
Plenette Pierson had a strong season debut for Texas Tech, totaling 25 points, eight rebounds and six blocks. She missed all but four games last season due to attitude-related suspensions.
Jia Perkins had 16 points and Erin Grant totaled 13, five rebounds, six assists and six turnovers for the Raiders, who shot 46 percent (31-of-69) from the field and 65 percent (13-of-20) from the line.
Good win against a quality opponent. Looks like we shot pretty good, got on the boards and did a good job with our free throws. All adds up to a big W!
No. 16 Louisiana Tech 85, No. 7 Texas Tech 76
By ELIZABETH A. DAVIS, AP Sports Writer
November 10, 2002
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Cheryl Ford, the daughter of NBA star Karl Malone, had 24 points and 15 rebounds Sunday to lead No. 16 Louisiana Tech past No. 7 Texas Tech 85-76.
The opener of the State Farm Classic marked the start of the women's college basketball season and the debut of Kurt Budke as Louisiana Tech's coach. He succeeds Leon Barmore, who retired in August after 17 seasons.
Ford, the lone senior for Louisiana Tech, was backed by Erica Smith with 17 points and Trina Frierson with 16.
Texas Tech's Plenette Pierson finished with 25 points. She was suspended last season for unspecified reasons after the first four games and missed the rest of the year. Jia Perkins added 16 points and Erin Grant had 13.
Budke, a former Louisiana Tech assistant, follows a coach who had a 576-87 record, the best winning percentage all-time among men's or women's coaches. Barmore and Texas Tech coach Marsha Sharp will be inducted in the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame next spring.
The Lady Techsters, who improved to 25-4 in season openers, did not trail after taking the lead four minutes into the game.
The Lady Raiders tied it at 46 after Grant made a free throw with 17:38 remaining to cap a 14-5 run that began in the first half.
But Frierson was fouled twice and made all four free throws and Amber Obaze got a steal and a basket to put Louisiana Tech up 52-46 with 16:15 to go.
The Lady Raiders drew to 58-57 with 12:28 remaining after Perkins' basket. But Louisiana Tech answered with two baskets by Frierson and a three-point play by Tamaka Clay to stretch the lead to eight.
Pierson had nine points in the opening minutes, but Louisiana Tech took advantage when she went to the bench midway through the first half. The Lady Techsters used a 13-6 run to go ahead 31-24 with 7:25 left in the half.
Pierson finally went back into the game but was held scoreless for nearly 10 minutes before hitting a basket with 1:10 to go, cutting Louisiana Tech's lead to 41-33 left.
Nice game from the Techsers. Our guard play really looked much faster than last year. Obaze and Smith are going to be a hard matchup for anyone. Ford looks like she wants MVP again this year, Frierson looks to be more like her old self. Freshman points played well enough to win, potential for both to be very good.
It is still very early, but I liked what I saw. It will be a fun year for techster fans. WAC teams better get ready, techsters much improved.
HUGE WIN! This puts us back in the top 10 where we belong. TT is a much better team than anyone thinks. They are #7 in some polls, but in most they are #3.
It felt so good to beat a top 10 team early in the season. We have Tenn. at home this year, so that gives some hope.
GREAT JOB TECHSTERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111
We won't be in the top 10 until some teams lose or we beat Tennessee. We'll probably move up 1 in AP, but that's it. Texas Tech might fall to 11 or 12.
USA Today
1. DUKE (25)
2. TENNESSEE (8)
3. CONNECTICUT (6) (39-0)
4. LSU (18-12)
5. KANSAS ST (26-8)
6. STANFORD (32-3)
7. TEXAS TECH (20-12)
8. PURDUE (24-6)
9. GEORGIA (19-11)
10. VANDERBILT (1) (30-7)
11. TEXAS (22-10)
12. NOTRE DAME (20-10)
13. NORTH CAROLINA (26-9)
14. PENN ST (23-12)
15. LOUISIANA TECH (25-5)
Associated Press
1. DUKE (38) (31-4)
2. TENNESSEE (4) (29-5)
3. LSU (1) (18-12)
4. CONNECTICUT (1) (39-0)
5. KANSAS ST (26-8)
6. STANFORD (32-3)
7. TEXAS TECH (20-12
8. PURDUE (24-6)
9. GEORGIA (19-11)
10. NOTRE DAME (20-10)
11. TEXAS (22-10)
12. VANDERBILT (30-7)
13. NORTH CAROLINA (26-9)
14. PENN ST (23-12)
15. MINNESOTA (22-8)
16. LOUISIANA TECH (25-5)
Champ I wonder how uclafan is going to spin this one over on the ESPN board. Bet that person doesn't show up for a while.
Yeah ... we're done.
GO TECHSTERS!!!
Yep, uclafan won't show up until we lose one. I can't wait to ask KV if she wants to reconsider her pre-season poll. :-) Think I'll wait till tomorrow for that.
:guitar:
Anxious to see who emerges as an inside back-up to Ford/Frierson...those two are so complementary; they operate much like Moody/Chones combo does for NC State. Also, in regards to a point, I hope that Clay or Crane or both develop a 3 pt. shot as both off guards like to pentrate. Having someone on the perimeter to whom the ball can be kicked out to would really open things up inside.
I loved the match-up inside with Pierson/Ford.