Preseason MVP: Chrislyn Carr averaged 13.9 points and four rebounds per game last year and should be in line for a banner year with guidance under new head coach in Krista Gerlich.

The Ceiling: With her early recruiting efforts of keeping guard Lexi Gordon and Chrislyn Carr on the roster, new head coach Krista Gerlich ensured that the Lady Raiders would stay in the fight as a middle-of-the-pack Big 12 Conference squad, hoping to build up from there.

The Floor: While guard-heavy, the Lady Raiders have plenty of fire power to keep themselves in most games. But, if its outside shooting is off for more than just a few nights, Texas Tech could find itself missing the conference tournament. There’s much to be desired in terms of defense.

Game of the Year: Oklahoma State

Project Starting Five:

Chrislyn Carr
G | 5-5 | Jr. | Davenport, Iowa

Lexi Gordon
G | 6-0 | Sr. | Fort Worth

Andrayah Adams
G | 5-10 | Sr. | Minneapolis, Minn.

Alexis Tucker
G | 5-11 | So. | Hawthorne, Calif.

Vivian Gray
G | 6-1 | Jr. | Argyle, Texas

Krista Gerlich
Head Coach

Impact First-Year Player: Vivian Gray

 

Season Preview

Krista Gerlich knows it’s going to take time.

The former Texas Tech guard, who helped lead the Lady Raiders to their only national title in 1993, inherited a program which is not close those glory days.

It’s a big reason she’s mentioned more than once that patience will be key as the former UT-Arlington coach looks to bring the storied program back to its previous prominence.

“I just can’t emphasize enough how it’s got to be stop-by-step,” said Gerlich, who was hired Aug. 18 following the termination of Marlene Stollings, who spent two seasons with the Lady Raiders before she was terminated on Aug. 6, a day after USA TODAY published an article detailing verbal abuse toward players. “To be able to build it right, we just can’t miss any steps.

“It’s going to take us some time to get going, but we will and we’re going to do it the right way. And I know our kids are going to respond to that.”

So far, so good on the relationship front as Gerlich secured the re-commitments of Chrislyn Carr and Lexi Gordon who previously announced their intentions to join the transfer portal back in August.

The duo combined to average 26.9 points, 10.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. Carr was the second-leading scorer at 13.9 points per contest, while Gordon, a transfer from UConn, netted 13 points per game.

“I think it was important for some stability with our other kids and just for our fans,” Gerlich said. “It was good for them to see that they want to be here, and they want to represent Texas Tech.”

Keeping the top-two returning scorers was a big get for Gerlich, who also found time to help fill some current needs of a guard-heavy squad which consists of returners Maka Jackson, Jo’Nah Johnson, Jada Walton, Andrayah Adams and Alexis Tucker. Transfers Najé Murray (San Diego State) and Emma Clarke (Colorado) could also play a role. Murray is expected to be immediately eligible while Clarke is awaiting word or will redshirt before having two years to play.

Sydney Goodson announced she would play her senior season at Kansas State on April 6, while Johnson and Walton suffered season-ending injuries.

On Sept. 11, the Lady Raiders reportedly landed Vivian Gray – a two-time honorable mention all-American and the Big 12’s second-leading scorer each of the past two years. The 6-foot-1 forward and graduate transfer averaged 20.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and shot 82.4 percent from the free-throw line last season.

If she’s deemed eligible, Gray would join freshmen posts Daija Powell (6-1), Khadija Faye (6-foot-4), Khyla Wade-Warren (6-foot-2) and junior Bryn Gerlich (6-foot), who is Krista’s daughter and transferred to Texas Tech back in August.

“We are guard-heavy,” Krista Gerlich said. “We do have some freshman with some size. ... I do think they will have to develop quickly to help us this year.

“They’re going to get thrown into the fire, there’s no doubt about it.”

With that in mind, Gerlich is hoping her team can embrace being a defensive-minded team after earning an offensive calling card the past two years.

“We’re going to have to pressure out a little more and maybe press a little, even if it’s in the half-court just trying to keep the ball out on the perimeter and not let it get to the rim,” Krista Gerlich said. “That’s definitely going to be a challenge that I’m excited about. I love to play defense and to be able to create some offense off our defense. … It’s going to be a work in progress.”