Hungry to Hoop Again, Texas Tech Heads on the Road to Washington State
Texas Tech heads to Pullman on Friday for its longest trip of the non-conference stretch, facing Washington State at 8 p.m. PT / 6 p.m. CT on ESPN+. The Lady Raiders arrive at 10–0, receiving votes in both national polls, coming off an 83–43 win over Wichita State that kept their defensive numbers among the nation’s best. The next week of games include the team’s second true road game of the year and mirrors the kind of travel and preparation they’ll face in Big 12 play.
“This long road trip is very accurate in the Big 12,” head coach Krista Gerlich said. “We’ll have to go a couple of time zones over to play this game, and we’ll have to do that in the Big 12.”
Washington State’s 1–9 record doesn’t reflect the reality of its schedule, which has featured LSU, BYU, Missouri, Stanford, UNLV and a NET strength of schedule of 41. Several losses have come down to the final minutes and Gerlich stressed that the Cougars are far better than the standings show.
“They’re coached really well… they can really pass the basketball, they share the ball well, and they play great team basketball,” she said. “We’re going to have to play really well on their home court to come away with the win.”
Senior point guard Gemma Núñez echoed this sentiment but added they are focusing more on what they do well and improving on those things each game. An our best is better attitude you’d expect from a senior.
“We know they’re a good team and that the record doesn’t show how good they are,” she said.
“Of course we know the scout and everything, but focus on ourselves. Just do what we do and do it better. We’re always striving to get better. So every game we just want to get better. Just do what we do and we will be able to get the win.”
Núñez also wasn’t shy about how eager she and the team are to get back on the floor after a final exam break has kept Texas Tech from playing since their win on December 3.
“We haven’t played in a while. It feels like months now,” she joked, or perhaps not a joke at all and more a nod to how much this group loves the game and competing. “You have to be tough for sure [on the road]… we’re excited to go on the road and get another win.”
Gerlich has also emphasized what playing away from Lubbock demands.
“When you play on the road, the home team has a 10-point advantage,” she said is what she tells her players. “We need to make sure we’re prepared for that.”
Earlier this season at New Mexico, assistant coach Ketara Chapel introduced a hard hat as a symbol of embracing the adversity they were about to face on the road. Asked whether it might return for their second true road trip of the year in Pullman, Gerlich didn’t shut the door.
“We might have to bring it back out,” she said.
Whether the hard hat makes the trip or not, the mindset behind it does: keep working, keep responding, and keep showing everyone who they are. That edge has fueled this group, especially as some are still squinting a bit at their 10–0 start.
“I think more than anything, people probably are doubting us and what we can do,” Gerlich said. “This group is special… they have big goals and dreams, and they’re preparing themselves the way they should be to make a great run.”
A long flight, a tough opponent and another chance to prove it – just the way this team likes it. After their trip to Pullman the Lady Raiders will make the quick trip back to Texas for a neutral site game with Abilene Christian on Sunday in Odessa, Texas. More to come on that matchup later in the week but fans interested in attending the game can find ticket information here.
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