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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) -- The Texas Tech Lady Raiders aren't done
proving themselves yet.
Aleah Johnson led a balanced Texas Tech scoring attack with 22
points, and the Lady Raiders (No. 11 ESPN/USA Today, No. 6 AP) stormed to an 83-54 victory over Tennessee Tech in a first-round NCAA women's tournament Mideast Regional game Saturday.
"It seems like this whole season we've been proving ourselves
to everybody," Johnson said. "We've got a lot more to prove
before we get the respect that we deserve."
The victory sends third-seeded Texas Tech (26-4) into a
second-round matchup Monday against Tulane (No. 21 ESPN/USA Today, No. 22 AP), which defeated Vermont 65-60.
"They played with the deserving ranking that they are,"
Tennessee Tech coach Bill Worrell said. "We were swimming uphill
with a bunch of sharks blocking our path. Our mistakes tonight were
obvious."
Texas Tech coach Marsha Sharp looks forward to the team's
matchup against Tulane, especially between Tulane's Grace Daley and
Tech's Katrissa O'Neal.
"I think O'Neal and Daley are going to be a good matchup, and
even I look forward to watching Monday night," Sharp said. "I
think if I wasn't coaching, it would be one I'd buy a ticket to."
Sharp said to continue advancing in the tournament, Tech has to
keep its scoring droughts to a minimum.
Scoring, however, came easy for the Lady Raiders on Saturday as
Plenette Pierson added 18 points, Amber Tarr another 13 and O'Neal
10.
"They really do tend to score points in bunches," Sharp said.
"We got better looks at the basket because we were more patient.
We have to preach patience on the offensive end to keep getting
better looks at the basket."
Texas Tech jumped in front early against Tennessee Tech (24-9),
scoring the first six points for a 30-19 lead as Johnson scored
eight points. The Lady Raiders led 33-21 at halftime.
"We're down 30-21 and I felt pretty good, and then they busted
a 3 on us," Worrell said. "Then they came back in after the half
and stomped on us with both feet."
Pierson scored four points and Johnson and Keitha Dickerson also
added baskets as Texas Tech took a 41-25 lead with 17:50 left.
Tennessee Tech closed to 48-36 midway through the half, but
Texas Tech responded with a 16-8 run to build the lead to 20.
Diane Seng led Tennessee Tech with 18 points, and Megan Isom
added 15.
"They did force our guards a lot farther out than we would have
liked them to have been, and kind of forced us out of our
offense," Seng said. "They really came out playing hard
tonight."
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ALSO SEE
Womens College Basketball Scoreboard
Tennessee Tech NCAA Team Report
Texas Tech NCAA Team Report
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