Bailey Maupin And1 Ignites Texas Tech In WNIT Secondround Win Over SMU

Bailey Maupin provided a spark when the Texas Tech women's basketball team needed it most, even as she passed the credit on to her teammates.

The Big 12 Conference freshman made a layup and the ensuing free throw to thwart SMU's lead in the third quarter. The play gave the Lady Raiders a lead they held until the end, sending the Mustangs 61-49 into Game 2 of the Women's National Invitational Tournament Round at Supermarket United Stadium.

Maupin scored 21 points to lead the team in scoring for the second year in a row.

Maupin said, “We kind of got out of our game plan and I feel like that game and the -1 brought us back to our game plan. We took the business from there."

After a double-digit deficit in the first half, the Mustangs (17-13) started the second half. SMU had 13 unanswered points, including five off an assist from Florida State's Savannah Wilkinson, to take its first lead after taking a 5-4 lead in the opening minutes.

Maupin capped the run with a three-point play that gave Tech a 34-33 lead. Score seven points in a frame to help the Lady Raiders right the ship. Tech took a 43-38 lead after holding the Mustangs to five points in the final six minutes of the third quarter.

Even as the goal line exploded, part of her 17 second-half points, Maupin paid tribute to her fellow Lady Raiders.

"I just feel like my teammates put me in really good positions to score and I had a chance," Moupin said. “And (coach Krista Gearlich) always says, if you have a chance, take it. So we all did.

Gearlich and the home crowd of 4,412 recognized Maupin's efforts. Gruver's hometown ovation when he left the game late was matched only by the ensuing rumble and -1.

"It was a great, breakthrough match," said Girlich. “It was a huge source of energy, our fans really got into it at that point.

Maupin also mentioned SMU coach Twill Wilson. The Mustangs became the fifth team in a row to allow a rookie to reach double figures.

"I told the girls it was an immediate offense," Wilson said. "He was a scout. He comes in and can really score. He can score at all three levels. He can create his own character... Just being a beginner is so cool. But he will have. great career.”

The defense that helped Tech (20-14) take the lead in the first half came back in the fourth quarter. The Mustangs shot 3 of 14 (21.4%) in the final frame, which the Lady Riders started with six straight points to give them an 11-point lead.

According to Gerlich, the late strategy was to allow Maupin to drive the ball to SMU's Jasmine Smith for a fifth foul attempt. The Mustangs' leading scorer had 16 points, but slumped after a stellar start. Wilkinson added 12 points for SMU.

Technical control with pressing 7-0 for the early tiebreaker. Smith hit a team-best nine SMU players and went 4 of 5 in the first quarter, but the rest of the Mustangs were 1 of 10 from the field as the Lady Raiders took an 18-11 lead.

Smith was held scoreless in a tough second half for both teams. Tech committed five turnovers in the frame but took a 31-20 lead after holding SMU to nine points. The Mustangs shot 4-of-13 (30.8%) on six-of-eight turnovers. SMU shot 31% in the first half and 32.1% for the game.

Priamber Scott had 11 points and 7 rebounds and Brian Gearlich had 10 points. The seniors have at least one game left as the Lady Raiders will advance to the WNIT Super 16. Tech faces Arkansas, which lost to Stephen F., on Monday in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Austin 60-37.

The third round game is scheduled for Friday at 7:00 p.m. Arkansas time.

Although disappointed that they were not accepted, the Lady Raiders are very excited to continue their season.

“I think what makes us special is how much we love and want each other,” Scott said, “because we all could have given up a while ago. We could say, 'No, we don't want to play in the WNIT.' But we love each other and we want to build this program like we do, but we want to go out there and win a championship.

"So if we're going to play, why not try to win it all?"

This article originally appeared in the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Billy Maupin ignites Texas Tech in the second round of the WNIT with a win over SMU.