The Texas Tech women’s basketball team extended its program-best start to a season by taking down Cincinnati 71-60 on the road Saturday, Jan. 10.
The Lady Raiders (18-0) improved to 5-0 in Big 12 play to remain alone in first place. They host Houston on Tuesday.
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Tech led by 17 points at halftime before the Bearcats climbed back into the game. Cincinnati, coming off an upset of No. 11 Iowa State, cut its deficit to four with 4:30 left. The Lady Raiders responded with a 13-3 run.
Bailey Maupin and Snudda Collins each scored 17 points to lead Tech. Denae Fritz added 13 points and five rebounds. It’s Fritz’s third-highest scoring output of the season and second time in three games she’s netted at least 13.
“We knew the scout, and the scout was to get to the rim,” Fritz told ESPN+. “I needed to do what I had to do, and one of those things was get to the rim more. I know a lot of people know me as a shooter, but I’ve got to improve that part of my game.”
Fritz also helped hold Cincinnati leading scorer Mya Perry to 12 points on 4-of-15 shooting. Perry was 0 of 5 on 3-point attempts and committed three turnovers.
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Defense played a big part when Tech sputtered on offense. The Lady Raiders scored eight points in the opening frame and seven points in the third quarter. But Tech scored 22 points off 22 turnovers.
The Lady Raiders also cleaned up their own giveaways, committing five turnovers after 10 in the first half.
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Texas Tech women’s basketball at Cincinnati live score updates
3:07 p.m. — FINAL: Texas Tech 71, Cincinnati 60. The Bearcats got as close as four points in the fourth quarter, but the Lady Raiders responded to improve to 18-0.
2:43 p.m. — Tech leads 54-47 with 6:03 left. Cincinnati will look to complete an and-1 after the break. The Bearcats have outscored Tech 24-14 in the second half
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2:30 p.m. — END 3Q: Texas Tech 47, Cincinnati 37. Lady Raiders managed seven points in the quarter as the Bearcats cut into their deficit. Cincinnati scored the final six of the quarter, including the final bucket after an offensive rebound on a missed free throw.
2:11 p.m. — Cincinnati has scored the first six points of the second half to cut Tech’s lead to 40-29. Lady Raiders have two turnovers in the first 3½ minutes of the quarter.
1:50 p.m. — HALFTIME: Texas Tech 40, Cincinnati 23. The Lady Raiders found their rhythm and closed the quarter on a 14-3 run to take control. Bailey Maupin leads the team with 10 points, followed by Jalynn Bristown with nine and Snudda Collins with seven. Caliyah DeVillasee has 10 for Cincinnati.
1:45 p.m. — Tech leads 32-20 with 2:39 left in the second quarter. The Lady Raiders’ defense has given them time for the offense to get going. Tech has 11 points off 13 Cincinnati turnovers.
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1:39 p.m. — Tech leads 24-18 with 4:53 before halftime. The offense has steadied in the second quarter and Bailey Maupin has eight points.
1:25 p.m. — END 1Q: Cincinnati 11, Texas Tech 8. Caliyah DeVillasee hits a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Bearcats the lead. Sloppy start for the Lady Raiders, who have eight turnovers and are shooting 2 of 10.
1:10 p.m. — Tech is 1-of-7 shooting at the first break as Cincinnati leads 6-2. Lady Raiders also already up to five turnovers with 4:50 left in the first quarter.
11:59 a.m. — Tech guard Sidney Love is available after missing the past three games with injury. She was listed as probable Friday and removed from the final availability report Saturday morning.
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Texas Tech women’s basketball at Cincinnati injury/availability report
Below is the availability report released Friday night. An updated version will be sent out 90 minutes before tip-off.
OUT FOR TEXAS TECH: Bird Martin, Stephanie Okechukwu
PROBABLE FOR TEXAS TECH: Sidney Love
OUT FOR CINCINNATI: Kali Barrett
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech women’s basketball tops Cincinnati to stay undefeated
