Lady Raiders Fall in Big-XII Tournament

By Jay Langley (Special to KLBK.com) (Oklahoma City, OK) - With a 71-67 loss to the Colorado Buffaloes in the first round of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship Tuesday afternoon in Oklahoma City, the Texas Tech Lady Raiders suffered their first losing season since the 1980-81 campaign. Tech (15-16, 6-10 Big 12) finished the 2006-07 season losing eight of their last 10 games. "This is kind of how things have gone for us," Lady Raider coach Kristy Curry said. "Weve been close but close doesnt really count." In her last game in a Tech uniform forward Alesha Robertson led Tech with 18 points and 10 rebounds. "Its pretty hard right now," Robertson said of playing her last game. "We were expecting to come in here and get a couple of wins. I dont know if its sunk in yet. We just gotta move on and see what God has in store for us next and take that challenge." With the win Colorado (13-16, 6-10) took the season series with Tech 2-0 and advanced to play top-seeded Texas A&M in the quarterfinals Wednesday at noon. "Its been a great ride with these girls," Colorado coach Kathy McConnell-Miller said, "and to come in here tonight and win a game in post season, Im excited." Forward Jackie McFarland led the Buffaloes with 32 points and 12 rebounds. Tech forced 25 Colorado turnovers and outscored the Buffaloes 29-17 in points off of turnovers. But the Lady Raiders shot just 40 percent from the floor including 4 of 20 from 3-point range. "We had some wide open looks from 3 today that just didnt go down for whatever reason," Curry said. "Im not sure why this has happened but there are better days ahead. We are going to find a way." Senior Patrice Edwards finished her career with a 13 point effort while fellow senior Brooke Baughman was held scoreless but had two assists and two rebounds in 28 minutes played. Curry said her three seniors are going to be missed. "Im really proud to have coached these three kids," Curry said. "They represent everything thats good as people and about being at Texas Tech. I feel like theyve laid the foundation for what were about to do with the future." Robertson said she is confident that she is leaving behind a bright future in the Tech program. "I think that the next coming years are going to be awesome," Robertson said. "I think this coaching staff knows what they want and theyre going to get it. This coaching staff has been a blessing. There going to get it done so whoevers going against Tech better watch out."