by LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech senior Kelsi Baker scored 18 points and freshman Dayo Olabode added a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds to help lead Tech to a 67-59 win over Jacksonville State on opening night at United Supermarkets Arena.
Former Tuba City Warrior standout Jamie Roe (Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma) added 9 points for the Texas Tech Lady Raiders in her first career start with the program. Roe is a transfer from Central Arizona College and begins her junior season with Tech.
Tech (1-0) jumped out to a 7-0 lead early and led by as many as 11 in the first half without ever giving up the lead. Olabode (pronounced OH-luh-boh-dee) scored Tech’s first points of the game and never stopped while logging 28 minutes. She was one of seven newcomers to play in her first game at Tech and one of three to score.
Her 14 points were the most by a Tech freshman in her first possible college game since Kierra Mallard poured in 16 against Idaho on Nov. 14, 2008 – exactly six years ago to the day.
“I mean every game I’m just going to get after it and go hard,” Olabode said. “A double-double will be what I try to go for every single game.”
Jacksonville State (0-1) tried to go for the lead several times after falling behind by 11, seven and nine points and found ways to cut it to as little as two points several times.
But Tech stifled any chance of the Gamecocks pulling ahead with its physical game in the paint – outscoring Jacksonville State 28-16 down low.
“I thought we were very good in the last two minutes,” Tech head coach Candi Whitaker said. “That last two-minute game when it’s a five-point game and we’re having to pull away a little bit more and get to the free throw line and take care of the basketball and secure it and handle the situation. I was really proud to see that. We work on that a lot. We work on it almost everyday. We’re going to have a lot of close games, we’re going to need to very good down the stretch.”
The Lady Raider will get their next chance at a win on Tuesday as Texas State comes to the South Plains for a 7 p.m. tip at United Supermarkets Arena.
