Lady Raiders Kick Off Season With Huge Win Over UTRGV
The Lady Raiders went through some major changes this offseason. Not only the entire coaching staff flipping after the Marlene Stollings firing and the homecoming of Krista Gerlich, but the roster also got some major additions as well.
Namely, Vivian Gray, the Oklahoma State transfer who is a preseason All-American and is on some major preseason award watchlists. Gray would be joined in the starting lineup by another Oklahoma State transfer, the head coach's daughter, Brynn Gerlich. The rest of the starters for the Lady Raiders are returners Chrislyn Carr, Lexi Gordon and Alexis Tucker. The new-look roster would have no trouble with UTRGV winning game one of the Gerlich Era 89-56 in the United Supermarkets Arena.
The Lady Raiders would start fast leading 26-15 after the 1st quarter. The second quarter would go similarly with the home team leading 47-22 at halftime. The all-American Vivian Gray would lead the way for Texas Tech scoring 15 in the first half to go with Alexis Tucker's 13. Tucker and Gray alone were outscoring UTRGV by themselves at the break.
Carr would pace the scoring in the second half getting into double digits in the third quarter. By the end of the quarter, there would be four Lady Raiders in double-digits with Gray and Tucker being joined by Gordon and Carr.
The fourth quarter was more of the same with Khyla Wade-Warren joining the double-digit club making five Lady Raiders scoring at least 10 points. Vivian Gray continued her dominant debut finishing with 24 points and eight rebounds. Both Tucker and Gordon added 18 apiece while Carr and Wade-Warren finished with 12 and 10 respectively.
The difference of fundamentals that were displayed by Gerlich's team compared to previous Lady Raider teams was a stark difference as the team dominated early and often with solid looks and made shots with 18 of their 33 field goals coming off assists.
These Lady Raiders were picked 6th in the Big 12 in the preseason, that certainly looks attainable with Gray, Gordon, Carr and the rest of the solid contributors on this roster.
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