The Lady Raiders for season 2016-17

# 00 Brielle Blaire __ Junior __ Forward __ Height: 6’ 2” __ Transfer
Blaire came to Texas Tech from Virginia Tech. She transferred in the winter 2014 and became eligible to play for the Lady Raiders midway through the 2015-16 season.  So far this season she has played in 2 of the games (Alcorn State and Central Arkansas). In the 9 minutes of play with Alcorn she scored 6 pts, 3 rbds, 1 assist and 1 block. In her 5 minutes in the Central Arkansas game she scored 3 pts, 1 assist and 1 rbnd. Blaire is out of commission due to an injury.

# 1 Erin DeGrate __ Sophomore __ Center __ Height: 6’ 5” __ Transfer
Degrate came to Texas Tech from Louisville and will be eligible to play for the Lady Raiders in the 2017-18 season.

# 2 Ivonne CookTaylor __ Redshirt Senior __ Guard __ Height: 5’ 10”
CookTaylor is one of the Lady Raiders offensive leaders leading the team in scoring 14.3 ppg coming into the 2016-17 season. She was picked by the Big12 for the Honorable Mention All Big12 team. This season she has played in all 11 of the pre-conference games averaging 24 minutes/game. CookTaylor is averaging 8.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 2 assists/game, 1.5 steals/game and is 91.7% accurate the charity stripe.

# 4 Recee’ Caldwell __ Sophomore __ Guard __ Height: 5’ 8” __ Transfer
Caldwell came to Texas Tech from UCLA. She sat out the 2015-16 season for NCAA transfer rules. Caldwell had a successful freshman season for the Bruins, she played in 17 games and averaging 6.9 ppg, 2 rpg and 2.5 assists/game. This season Caldwell has played in all 11 of the pre-conference games averaging 17.4 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 4.6 assists/game, 1.3 steals/game. She is 83.3% accurate from the FT Line and scores 47.5% beyond the arc.

# 5 Larryn Brooks __ Junior __ Guard __ Height: 5’ 6” __ Transfer
Brooks came to the Lady Raiders from Indiana. In her freshman season (2013-14) at IU she became the first IU freshman to score over 500 points in a season. She earned second team All-Big Ten honors as well as being named to the Big Ten All-Freshman team. In her Sophomore season ( 2014-15) she averaged 11.8 ppg. She sat out the 2015-16 season for NCAA transfer rules. Brooks so far this season is scoring 8.1 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 3 assists/game, 1 steal and is 78.5% accurate at the FT Line.

# 10 Grayson Bright __ Freshman __ Guard __ Height: 5’ 11”
Bright played high school WBB in Fort Worth, TX at Fossil Ridge High School. She was ranked as the No. 73 guard nationally in the 2016 class, averaged 15.8 pts to go along with 5.8 rbnds, 3.4 assists, 3.5 steals and 2.4 blocks/game. Bright was named District Offensive MVP, an All-Region performer by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches, and a second team member on the Fort Worth Star-Telegram Super Team and led her team, the Panthers, to the postseason for the second-straight year. Bright has played in all 11 of the pre-conference games and started in the Houston game. She is averaging 3.1 ppg, 2 rpg, 1 assist/game and 1.2 steals/game.

# 12 Jada Terry __ Junior __ Center __ Height: 6’ 4” __ Transfer
Terry came to Texas Tech from Texas A&M, where she played for 2 seasons (2013-14 and 2014-15). She sat out the 2015-16 season for NCAA transfer rules. In her freshman season (2013-14), she played approximately 4 minutes/game but struggled with her scoring and was only 47.6% FG accurate. Terry improved in her sophomore season (2014-15), she improved to 74.6% FG accuracy and averaged 3.8 ppg. This season so far she has been listed as a starter for all 11 pre-conference games averaging 14.1 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 1.45 blocks and 1 steal/game. She struggles and needs to greatly improve on her free-throws with only a 45.1% FT accuracy.

# 20 Brittany Brewer __ Freshman __ Forward __ Height: 6’ 5”
Brewer played for Wylie High School in Abilene, TX. Brewer was the No. 97 prospect nationally in the 2016 class, according to ESPNU Hoopgurlz and was named District 6-4A MVP in 2013-14 after averaging 13.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg and 3.5 blocks as a sophomore, and then repeated the feat again in 2014-15, a year in which she also earned All-State honors and improved her numbers, averaging 16.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game as a junior to go along with shooting 61% from the floor. She stepped up when the lights were on, rattling off 27 points and 7 rebounds in the regional championship and followed that up with an 18-point, eight-rebound and six-block performance in Wylie’s state semifinal win. This season, she has played in all 11 pre-conference games and started in the Houston game. She has only averaged 2.7 minutes/game but has averaged 5.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg, and 1.5 blocks/game.

# 23 Arella Guirantes __ Freshman __ Guard __ Height: 5’ 11”
Guirantes came from Bellport High School, in Bellport, N.Y. She was the No. 44 player in the nation, according to ProspectNation and is the No. 17 wing in the 2016 class, according to ESPNU Hoopgurlz. Last season, Guirantes averaged 33 points, 13 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 3 steals and 2.6 blocks per game. At Bellport High School, Guirantes scored more than 2,000 points, and was selected to the NYSSWA All-State First Team. In the 11 pre-conference games, she started all but one of the games but played an average of 30 minutes in each game. Guirantes is averaging 13.8 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.72 blocks, and 1.1 assists and steals per game. She is a 30% 3-Ptr and is 86.7% accurate at the charity stripe.

# 30 Zuri Sanders __ Sophomore __ Forward __ Height: 6’ 0”
Sanders played in 31 games last season (2015-16) and was listed as the starter in 5 games. She averaged 3.6 ppg, and 2.7 rpg. She averaged nearly 10 rebounds per game after being inserted into the starting lineup, including nine against Oklahoma. Sanders was a breakout performer in the Big12 Women’s Championship, logging double-doubles in both games … She had 13 points and 14 rebounds in the opening-round win over Iowa State, before recording 11 points and 15 rebounds against Baylor, which boasted one of the biggest frontlines in the country. This season Sanders has not been able to play due to an injury suffered in practice prior to game play.

#32 Dayo Olabode __ Junior __Forward __ Height: 6’ 2”
In Dayo’s last two season with the Lady Raiders she has been pretty consistent at her FG% averaging over 7.2 ppg and 6.1 rpg. She had her best performance of conference play in the win at Kansas, scoring 12 points on just eight shots, and snagging eight rebounds. Olabode had a huge 20 points off the bench against Iowa State at the Big12 Women’s Championship, draining six threes. The sixth 3-Ptr broke an 80-80 tie with a minute left and gave Tech a lead it would not relinquish. This season she has played an average of 15 minutes in each game. She is averaging 3.3 ppg, and 4.6 rpg.

# 42 Ionna McKenzie __ Center __ Junior __ Height: 6’ 2”
McKenzie only averaged 10 minutes per games last season (2015-16). She had a 40% FG accuracy. This season she is pretty much a bench support player. She has played approximately 7.5 minutes per game and averages 1.2 ppg, 2 rpg, and 1 block/game.

 

Summary of the Pre-Conference Games

Date: Sunday, November 13, 2016
Teams: Texas Tech v North Dakota
Site / Location: “The USA” / Lubbock, TX
Final Score: Texas Tech 90 / North Dakota 80
Highlights: Four Lady Raiders scored double digits. Sophomore guard Recee’ Caldwell scored a career-high 28 pts (included five 3 ptrs), 7 assists, 2 rbnds and a steal. Senior Ivonne CookTaylor, freshman Arella Guirantes and junior Larryn Brooks all had 10 pts each. Guirantes also recorded 4 blocks and 5 rbnds.

Date: Thursday, November 17, 2016
Teams: Texas Tech v Texas A&M
Site / Location: “Reed Arena” / College Station, TX
Final Score: Texas Tech 90 / Texas A&M 98
Highlights: The game went into Overtime and was a hard fought battle with twenty-two lead changes. Two Lady Raiders scored 20+ points. Sophomore Recee’ Caldwell scored 38 pts. Junior Jada Terry recorded her first double-double with 24 pts and 11 rbnds. Freshman Arella Guirantes scored 17 pts.

Note: No video available for the A&M game … so I added the video from last spring offseason update on the incoming players

 

Date: Sunday, November 20, 2016
Teams: Texas Tech v New Mexico
Site / Location: “The USA” / Lubbock, TX
Final Score: Texas Tech 69 / New Mexico 58
Highlights: A record-breaking 71 rebounds and a come back win after trailing at the half. Freshman Arella Guirantes had 21 pts and 13 rbnds, 2 blocks, 3 assists and a steal. Junior Jada Terry scored 16 pts and recorded 10 rebounds. Senior Ivonne CookTaylor added 10 rbnds to the final tally.

Date: Friday, November 25, 2016
Teams: Texas Tech v Fordham
Site / Location: “Watsco Center” / Coral Gables, FL
Final Score: Texas Tech 59 / Fordham 50
Highlights: Texas Tech came out playing slow and allowed Fordham to lead at the half. The Lady Raiders came out hot in the 3rd scoring 21pts in the 3rd Qtr. Freshman Arella Guirantes scored 19 pts, 12 rbnds, 2 steals and 2 blocks. Junior Jada Terry added 17 pts and 10 rbnds. Senior Ivonne CookTaylor scored 10 pts and 10 rbnds.

Note: No video available for the Fordham game

 

Date: Sunday, November 27, 2016
Teams: Texas Tech v Miami
Site / Location: “Watsco Center” / Coral Gables, FL
Final Score: Texas Tech 56 / Miami 74
Highlights: Three quarters of hanging with the Hurricanes but ran out of steam in the 4th Qtr. Freshman Arella Guirantes led the team with 14 pts, 3 rbnds and 2 assists. The 14 points marked Guirantes’ fourth double-figure game of the season. Junior Jada Terry scored 11 pts and 6 rbnds. Senior Ivonne CookTaylor scored 8 pts and 5 rbnds.

Note: No video available for the Miami game …. so I added the Preview video prior to the Lady Raiders traveling to Florida

 

Date: Tuesday, November 29, 2016
Teams: Texas Tech v Prairie View
Site / Location: “The USA” / Lubbock, TX
Final Score: Texas Tech 85 / Prairie View 43
Highlights: Five Lady Raiders scored in double figures as Texas Tech overpowered Prairie View A&M, 85-43 with a 30-5 1st Qtr. Freshman Brittany Brewer and Sophomore Recee’ Caldwell led the team with 16 pts each and Brewer had 8 rbnds. Junior Larryn Brooks scored a career-high 15 pts and Jada Terry and Ivonne CookTaylor each scored 10pts. Junior Dayo Olabode, Guirantes and CookTaylor each had 7 rbnds.

Date: Saturday, December 3, 2016
Teams: Texas Tech v Arkansas
Site / Location: “Bud Walton Arena” / Fayettville, AR
Final Score: Texas Tech 60 / Arkansas 66
Highlights: In the SEC/Big 12 Challenge game, the Lady Raiders came up short, 66-60. Texas Tech jumped out to an early 11-5 lead in the first quarter, but the Razorbacks fought back to take the lead for the rest of the game. Sophomore guard Recee’ Caldwell led the team with 29 pts, marking her third 20+ point game of the season and fifth double-figure game of the season. Junior center Jada Terry scored 12 pts, 5 blocks and 9 rbnds. The Lady Raiders recorded a season-best 12 blocks against the Razorbacks. Terry led the team with her 5, while freshman Arella Guirantes had 8 pts and 4 blocks.

Date: Wednesday, December 7, 2016
Teams: Texas Tech v Houston
Site / Location: “The USA” / Lubbock, TX
Final Score: Texas Tech 84 / Houston 60
Highlights: The Lady Raiders had a slow start in the first quarter, only scoring 15 points. But scored 21 and 30 points in the 2nd and 3rd Qtrs. Texas Tech shot a season-best 58.5% from the field while holding Houston to 42.1%. Five Lady Raiders scored double-digit points. Junior center Jada Terry led the team with 16 pts and 10 rbnds. Freshman Arella Guirantes scored 12 pts, 3 rbnds and 4 steals. Senior Ivonne CookTaylor also scored 12 pts and had 7 rbnds. Freshman guard Grayson Bright in her first career start, scored 10 pts. Sophomore guard Recee’ Caldwell scored 10 pts and 4 steals. Freshman Brittany Brewer had 9 pts and 5 rbnds.

Date: Wednesday, December 14, 2016
Teams: Texas Tech v Central Arkansas
Site / Location: “The USA” / Lubbock, TX
Final Score: Texas Tech 79 / Central Arkansas 45
Highlights: The Lady Raiders held Central Arkansas to less than 10 points in the 1st and 2nd Qtrs of the game. Freshman Arella Guirantes led the team with 22 pts. Senior guard Ivonne CookTaylor had16 pts, 4 rbnds, 5 assists and 3 steals. Junior Larryn Brooks had 15 pts (12 from behind the arc) and 3 rbnds. Sophomore guard Recee’ Caldwell scored 10 pts and 4 rbnds. Junior center Jada Terry had 8 pts and 4 rbnds.

Date: Sunday, December 18, 2016
Teams: Texas Tech v Alcorn State
Site / Location: “The USA” / Lubbock, TX
Final Score: Texas Tech 90 / Alcorn State 37
Highlights: Texas Tech outscored the Lady Braves 52-10 in the paint and scored 20+ points in three of the four quarters. Six Lady Raiders scored double-digit points for the first time this season. Junior center Jada Terry led the team with 15 pts and had 3 rbnds. Freshman Arella Guirantes scored 13 pts, 7 rbnds and 2 steals. Junior Dayo Olabode scored 12 pts and 7 rbnds. Sophomore Recee’ Caldwell scored 11 pts and had 9 assists. Junior Larryn Brooks had 10 pts 3 rbnds and 3 assists. Freshman Grayson Bright both scored 10 pts, 5 rbnds and 2 steals. Freshman Brittany Brewer had 8 pts and 7 rbnds.

Date: Thursday, December 22, 2016
Teams: Texas Tech v UT Arlington
Site / Location: “The USA” / Lubbock, TX
Final Score: Texas Tech 79 / UT Arlington 60
Highlights: The Lady Raiders turned on the heat with 28-3 run to take a 28-5 lead in the 1st Qtr. Sophomore guard Recee’ Caldwell led the team with 20 pts, 6 assists and 2 steals. Junior Jada Terry scored 17 pts, 10 rbnds, 3 blocks and 2 steals. Senior Ivonne CookTaylor scored 13 pts, 7 rbnds, 3 assists and 2 steals. Junior Larryn Brooks had 12 pts (9 pts came from beyond the arc) and 2 steals.