The Texas Tech women’s basketball team didn’t get the start it wanted Tuesday, in part because of a rough go shooting. Coach Krista Gerlich challenged her two top guards, and Jasmine Shavers responded when the team needed it most.
Shavers, who was scoreless on 0-of-6 shooting in the opening half, scored 10 consecutive points in the fourth quarter to help put away New Mexico 75-68. The junior’s flurry created separation from a Lobos squad that held a lead late in the third quarter.
“She was huge. We need her to show up,” Gerlich said. “I really challenged her and Bailey (Maupin) at halftime, because their stat line was not good. It’s one thing to not shoot the basketball well, but it’s another to not be contributing in any other category. If they’re not shooting the ball well, they need to be rebounding, they need to be playing defense, they need to be helping someone else score, setting great screens. Neither one of them were really doing that for us. …
“They didn’t start the third quarter great, but when they got back in the game I thought both of them helped us a lot better. Obviously, Jazzy’s an all-Big 12 player for a reason and it certainly helps us when she gets going.”
Gerlich said slow starts have plagued Shavers early this season. The coach said she’s committed to getting to the root of that issue. Still, Shavers has led the team in scoring in consecutive contests after Tuesday’s 18 points.
“I think everybody knows that she has it within her,” Gerlich said.
“I would not call her a streaky player, by any means, because she can be consistently really tough throughout the game. But when she does get hot, it comes in bunches. It’s fun to kind of watch her cook a little bit. When she starts seeing the ball go in the basket, she can get in her bag pretty deep and make some really great things happen.”
A renewed defensive effort boosted Tech, too. The Raiders held New Mexico to 40% shooting, including 1 of 7 from deep, in the second half. The Lobos shot 53.8%, including 4 of 8 from 3-point range, to stay within 37-34 at halftime.
It was the first game this season Tech (3-0) has been pushed for four quarters. Gerlich said it was a necessary test as the team continues to search for a rhythm.
“We’re not playing our best basketball, by any means,” Gerlich said. “And we are having to fight through some things. You want to be able to fight through some adversity and learn some things about yourself, while still getting wins.
“Our kids gotta learn how to continue to grind it out. I think that they showed some unity and some toughness tonight that we haven’t had to use in the first two games, and that’s gonna be really important for us down the road.”
