Texas Tech Lady Raiders Lose First Game of the Season to Oklahoma

The #10 ranked Texas Tech Lady Raiders suffered their first loss of the season tonight at the Oklahoma Sooners, 71-68.

The Sooners played the Lady Raiders tight throughout the whole game, with the lead changing hands 21 different times.  At halftime, Oklahoma had a one point, 37-36 lead.

During the second half, the Lady Raiders got out to 7 point leads two separate times, but were unable to hold on to their leads.  The second 7 point lead came with 5 minutes left to go in the game from a Monique Smalls layup.

The Sooners then hammered away at the lead with a 3-pointer from Joanna McFarland. After a Lady Raider turnover and a missed shot from Smalls, Oklahoma continued to chip away at the lead with a Sharane Campbell layup.

At this point, Tech's lead was down to two points, 66-64, with 2:57 left in the game.

On the Lady Raiders next possession, Smalls was fouled and she made both of her free throws.  Those two points, would end up being the final Tech points in the game.

Campbell took control of the game for the Sooners in the final two and-a-half minutes. She made a layup and the ensuing free throw after Kierra Mallard fouled out to make a 3-point play. That made the score 68-67, Lady Raiders.  After a missed Christine Hyde layup, Campbell made a jumper on the Sooners next possession to give them a 69-68 lead.  She then made one final basket for the Sooners with 12 seconds left, extending the lead to 71-68.

The Lady Raiders had one final chance to tie the game as time ran out, but Jordan Barncastle missed a 3-pointer as time expired.

Hyde led the Lady Raiders with 21 points, a career high, and she was the only Lady Raider to score double digits.

Sooners guard Whitney Hand led her team with 24 points and Aaryn Ellenberg scored 10.

The Lady Raiders record is now 14-1 (2-1) while the Sooners improved to 10-4 (2-1).