The Texas Tech Lady Raiders will play in their first NCAA Tournament game since 2013 Friday night at 7:30 p.m.
Krista Gerlich is no stranger to the March Madness stage. She was a part of the Texas Tech Lady Raiders lone national championship in 1993 and has returned to her alma mater to lead one of the best seasons in program history over 30 years later.
For her team, it's a different story. None of Texas Tech's roster was born the last time its women's basketball team was as good as it is now, and for many of them, when they hit the floor to play against the Villanova Wildcats at 7:30 p.m. in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament, it will be a moment they'll never forget.
The Lady Raiders are making their first appearance in the big dance since 2013. It's a turnaround that is best embodied by senior guard Bailey Maupin, who has rose up the program's record books despite not enjoying such massive success in the win column until this year.
"This moment is something that I’ve dreamed of since I was a little kid," Maupin said this week to reporters. "It’s something that for the past four years of my college career, this is what I’ve been working towards. This is exactly the way that I would want my career to end."
Texas Tech had a rough end to the season following a 19-0 start that grew championship aspirations early. Gerlich has acknowledged those recent shortcomings, but knows that the win-or-go-home format lends to a belief of new life and new possibilities for momentum.
"It’s been a long, hard road to get this program back to where it belongs," Gerlich said. "We’re glad to be here and obviously really excited about this next part of the season. This team has been super special, and they’ve bought into everything from day one."
On the other side is No. 11 seed Villanova, who has been playing some of its best basketball of the year. The Wildcats' only two losses since late January have come against the top-overall seed UConn.
"Villanova is an excellent basketball team," Maupin said. "They move the ball well, they share the ball well, and they have a bunch of really good players. So for us, it's about keeping everybody in front and being disciplined on defense."
Both teams have relied on strong defense to get them to their 25-7 records. When they meet up in Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on Friday night, it's a battle of wills that will decide which story continues.
"I’m not tired. I’m not done playing basketball yet," Maupin stated. "Hopefully I get to play six more games and be in the national championship."
