Jan 4, 2004
Box Score
LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) - Texas Tech sure looked like the top team in the country.
Natalie Ritchie scored 19 points and the No. 2 Lady Raiders placed five players in double figures Sunday en route to a 95-53 victory over Pepperdine.
One day after No. 1 Connecticut lost 68-67 at the buzzer to No. 4 Duke, Texas Tech (14-0) made a strong case for the nation's top ranking.
"We haven't played anyone in the Top Five yet, but we're undefeated and what a great honor that would be for us," coach Marsha Sharp said. "They deserve that, and it would be something we'd be very proud of."
Ritchie connected on five of six 3-pointers. She was joined in double figures by Jametra Clark with 17 points, Jia Perkins with 15, and Jolee Ayers-Curry and Alesha Robertson with 10 apiece.
"To tell the truth, this is the most fun I've ever had with any basketball program going back all the way to the third grade," Ritchie said. "It's been a blast. Every single player on this team is so unselfish. We all cheer for each other. It's what you play college basketball for."
Pepperdine (6-7) was paced by Shandrika Lee's 15 points. Kelly Greathouse added 10.
"They jumped out on us early, they jumped out in the middle of the game and they jumped out at the end of the game," Waves coach Mark Trakh said. "They pretty much jumped out all over the game."
Texas Tech never trailed while building a 50-21 halftime lead. The Lady Raiders jumped ahead 12-2 and pushed the advantage to 29-9 on a pair of free throws by Cisti Greenwalt at the 9:54 mark.
Leading 31-11, Tech ran off 13 straight points. Ritchie keyed the spurt by connecting on three 3-pointers. Robertson's free throws 3:49 before halftime capped the run and made it 44-11.
"So far, we're on a pretty good roll," Perkins said. "Hopefully, we can keep it going."
Tech was just as dominant in the second half, scoring the first nine points and claiming a 59-21 lead. Perkins had three points in the run, and Ayers-Curry and Erin Grant added baskets.
Pepperdine never pulled closer than 28 points the rest of the way, getting to 62-34 at the 12:59 mark on a basket by Greathouse.
The Lady Raiders closed the game by scoring the final 10 points, including four by Clark.
"I was proud of our team. We got off to a great start today," Sharp said. "Something that's happened over the last four or five games is our seniors have really worked to get us off to a fast start."
Trakh was impressed by the Lady Raiders.
"I think they're better than the other ranked teams we've played so far, but I think Texas Tech and UConn would be a pretty good game," he said.
