Unbeaten Lady Raiders chase program history, aiming for a record win streak against Houston. Bailey Maupin and Denae Fritz lead the charge.
The Texas Tech Lady Raiders are back where they’re most comfortable - inside United Supermarkets Arena - with momentum, history, and a little swagger on their side.
Tuesday night’s 6 p.m. CT tip against the Houston Cougars isn’t just another conference game; it’s a chance for Tech to tie a program record and keep a season-long heater rolling.
At 18-0 overall and 5-0 in Big 12 play, the Lady Raiders are living in rare air.
Only a handful of teams nationwide can say they’re still unbeaten, and a win Tuesday would match the school’s single-season win streak of 19 from the 1992-93 national title run.
That’s the kind of stat that makes longtime fans feel different. It would also put Tech at 6-0 in conference play for the first time since 2000-01, another reminder that this group is flirting with the history books every time it takes the floor.
If you’re looking for the heartbeat of this run, start with Bailey Maupin.
The senior just scooped up Big 12 Player of the Week honors after torching West Virginia for 27 and following it with a smooth 17 against Cincinnati.
Then there’s Denae Fritz, who quietly does a little bit of everything and occasionally does a lot of it.
Six steals against Cincinnati was the kind of performance that makes opposing guards glance nervously at the scouting report. Over the past week, Fritz shot better than 54 percent from the field and 60 percent from deep, while also crashing the glass.
Continuity has been another not-so-secret weapon.
Tech has rolled with the same starting five - Jalynn Bristow, Fritz, Maupin, Gemma Nunez, and Sarengbe Sanogo - every game this season. No lineup roulette.
Houston comes in at 6-10 and still searching for its first Big 12 win, but this isn’t a team that wants to be ignored.
The Cougars force turnovers, spread scoring across multiple players, and rebound well enough to hang around if you let them. The key for Tech is simple and practical ... take care of the ball early and don’t give Houston confidence.
If the Lady Raiders defend like they’ve been defending and keep the tempo under control, this one sets up as another step toward something special.
Get there early, be loud, and enjoy the ride. Seasons like this don’t come around often ... and the Lady Raiders are making sure every game matters.