Shavers has career night to push Tech past Houston

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Behind a 29-point performance from Jasmine Shavers, the Texas Tech Lady Raiders are advancing to the next round of the Big 12 Championship after toppling the 13-seeded Houston Cougars, 74-60, on Thursday evening at the T-Mobile Center. The 12-seeded Lady Raiders have now beaten Houston three times this season, which is the first time doing so since 2005-06 against TCU.

Shavers was on fire from start to finish after putting up 29 points on a career-best 10-of-18 shooting (.556) and 50 percent shooting from the 3-point line (4-of-8). In addition, Shavers added six rebounds and two assists for the Lady Raiders (17-15). She picked up her 25th double-figure scoring game and team-leading seventh 20-plus point game of the year.

In just her second game back from injury, senior Jordyn Merritt was all over the court in Tech’s win against Houston (14-16). Merritt shot 50 percent from the field (6-of-12) for 15 points and totaled nine rebounds to almost record a double-double in the game. She also collected two assists, three blocks and a career-high tying four steals. This marked Merritt’s 18th game this season with 5 or more rebounds, eighth game with 10 or more points and ninth game with two or more blocks.

Sophomore Bailey Maupin recorded her team-best 26th double-figure scoring game of the year with 10 points while adding three assists, a steal and two rebounds. Sophomore Jada Wynn was on fire from behind the arc after going 3-of-5 from the three for nine points and tallied a career-high eight rebounds. Freshman Loghan Johnson had an impressive game after she recorded eight points on 75 percent shooting with six rebounds and a career-high tying four assists, which led the team.

The Lady Raiders move to 19-23 at the Big 12 Championship and are moving on to the next round for the first time since 2019. This is just the eighth time Texas Tech has won its opening round game at the tournament in the past 20 seasons.

Houston began the first quarter up early, 2-0, before Shavers tied things up with a layup. The Cougars took a 6-2 lead, but the Lady Raiders scored six of the next eight points to even the game at 8-all heading into the media timeout. With 1:55 left, Shavers hit a 3-pointer, but Houston answered with a buzzer-beater three to make it 11-11 at the end of the period.

Tech started the second quarter on an 8-0 run. The Lady Raiders opened it up with a Merritt block that led to a fastbreak layup from Johnson. Then, Merritt scored six-straight points for a 19-13 advantage. Houston closed the gap with a 4-0 run before the media timeout ensued at the 4:53 mark. Coming out of it, the Lady Raiders got three points from Shavers, then a wide-open 3-pointer from Wynn. Once again, Merritt got a block that led to a Johnson fastbreak layup to put Tech ahead by eight. The Lady Raiders closed it out with a free throw from Maupin to lead 30-24 heading into the half.

Houston began the second half with a 3-pointer until Ashley Chevalier answered with one of her own. Merritt made three quick points for Tech before the Cougars got another three. At the 6:18 mark, Maupin connected with a 3-pointer from the corner right before the media timeout to put Tech ahead 41-32. The Lady Raiders went on a 9-0 run after the second media timeout, highlighted by an offensive board from Johnson that led to a Shavers step-back three. The Lady Raiders kept their foot on the gas as they went into the fourth with a 57-43 advantage.

The Cougars went on a 7-2 run to begin the final quarter as they closed the deficit, 59-51, to force a timeout. Shavers was able to stop their momentum briefly when she nailed a triple. Then with 5:50 left in the game, Merritt scored a layup and Wynn collected her third 3-pointer to make it 67-56. Houston tried to make a comeback, but Shavers scored the last five points of the game to give Tech a 74-60 win.

UP NEXT

The Lady Raiders move on to the second round of the Big 12 Championship as they take on 5-seeded Baylor on Friday, March 8 at 11 a.m.

–TECH–

Release Provided By Casey Montalvo Texas Tech Athletics