The Lady Raiders’ unbeaten start came to an end Saturday after losing to Kansas State 65-59 and dropping their record to 19-1 overall, but not before Texas Tech had already positioned itself as one of the Big 12’s early-season surprises.
This story originally aired Jan. 17 and has been updated to reflect Saturday’s result.
Entering the weekend, the Lady Raiders were 19–0 and ranked No. 17 in the Associated Press Top 25 after a home win over Houston earlier in the week. That victory, followed by Saturday’s first loss of the season, now frames a pivotal stretch as conference play intensifies.
The win over Houston was highlighted by another strong offensive performance from senior guard Bailey Maupin, who scored a game-high 19 points and continues to lead Texas Tech in Big 12 play at 16.5 points per game.
In the postgame press conference, Maupin said the offense has grown significantly since the start of the season.
“I think that we've done an excellent job, you know, getting into a flow on offense, finding open shooters, finding mismatches, hitting the people that have the hot hand,” Maupin said. “That's something that we need to continue to do and continue to be better at.”
Still, much of Texas Tech’s success this season has been built on its defense, which ranks among the best in the Big 12.
Opponents are shooting just 23.7 percent from three-point range against the Lady Raiders, the second-best mark in the conference. Against Houston, Tech also recorded 16 steals, its highest total since Big 12 play began.
Head coach Krista Gerlich acknowledged that the team’s defensive physicality can come with a downside.
“And we pride ourselves in being physical,” Gerlich said. “You know, I think that our defense allows us to be pretty physical. We've got to be able to do it without fouling as much, and we can't put opponents on the free throw line 26 times, but in turn, we have to be able to embrace that physicality and get to the rim and get to the free throw line as well.”
Texas Tech’s opponents have attempted 325 free throws this season, the second most in the Big 12. Houston’s 26 free-throw attempts were the most the Lady Raiders allowed in conference play, though still fewer than the 35 allowed to Abilene Christian and 28 against UTSA.
“So I think they need some rest. I think they need some mental rest,” Gerlich said. “But I'm really proud of the fact that, you know, they can win ball games when they're not playing their best, and they really stick together. And I think that togetherness has been instrumental in our success this year.”
Before Saturday’s loss, Tech had already picked up its most significant win of the season — a Big 12-opening victory over then-No. 18 Baylor, now its only win against a ranked opponent.
That result anchored the Lady Raiders’ early resume, but it also sharpened the central question surrounding their fast start: how it would hold up as the schedule stiffened.
That question now looms larger, with multiple ranked Big 12 opponents still ahead.
Ranked just behind Baylor at No. 19 is Iowa State, whom Texas Tech will face later this month. The Cyclones lead the Big 12 with 21.9 assists per game and share the conference’s best three-point shooting percentage at 37 percent.
Then, to open February, Tech will face No. 10 TCU, the only Big 12 team currently ranked ahead of the Lady Raiders. The Horned Frogs lead the conference defensively, allowing just 51.9 points per game overall and 57.8 in Big 12 play, while also sharing the league’s top three-point shooting percentage.
So, despite one of the best starts in program history, the Lady Raiders now enter the most demanding stretch of their season having absorbed their first setback.
How Texas Tech responds over the next few weeks will determine whether that early surge becomes a brief highlight — or the foundation of something more lasting.
Many in Lubbock believe the Lady Raiders are ready for the challenge, including Texas Tech men’s head basketball coach Grant McCasland, who praised Gerlich and the program this week.
“So thankful to work with somebody like Coach Gerlich, who just loves being a Red Raider,” McCasland said. “I mean, that's her heart, and you could tell, since I've been here, she's worked unbelievably hard just to try to build an atmosphere and a love for the Lady Raiders.
“This team is legit tough," he said. "We’ve got a really good basketball team.”