Texas Tech
Projected Finish: 6th
Key Returners:
Recee’ Caldwell 14.5ppg, 38%, 2.8 rpg, 4.5 apg, 34 mpg
Jada Terry 9.4 ppg, 53%, 6.2 rpg, 25 mpg
Brittany Brewer 5.8 ppg, 45%, 5.7 rpg, 22 mpg
Biggest losses:
Arella Guirantes 9.9 ppg, 41%, 4.8 rpg, 1.2 apg, 27 mpg
Ivonne Cook-Taylor 9.7 ppg, 43%, 5.4 rpg, 1.3 apg, 25 mpg
Larryn Brooks 9.3 ppg, 37%, 1.9 rpg, 2.4 apg, 29 mpg
Newcomers:
Erin Degrate C, 6-6, Waco, TX, Sophomore
Sydney Goodson G, 5-8, Argyle, TX, Sophomore
Lauren Harrison G, 6-0, The Woodlands, TX, Sophomore
Lyndsey Whilby G, 5-11, Powder Springs, GA, Freshman, #30 guard(Hoopgurlz)
Tinana Stojsauljevic F, 6-2, Zagreb, Croatia, Sophomore
Angel Hayden G, 5-6, Canyon, TX, Freshman, #23 PG (Hoopgurlz)
Head coach: Former Lady Raider Candi Whitaker is entering her fifth season with her alma mater. Whitaker saw big improvements in the 2016-2017 season with the help of three highly-ranked transfers in Recee’ Caldwell, Larryn Brooks, and Jada Terry. She led the Raiders to some key upsets over Oklahoma State and Big 12 tournament champion, West Virginia. The Raiders made some noise this past season, and are looking to keep it rolling.
Key non-conference games:
Texas A&M 11/26
LSU 11/30
New Mexico 12/6
Outlook: There are some intangibles that you don’t see on a stat sheet, and that is what Ivonne Cook-Taylor brought to this team. Her defensive presence and her high-release pull-up jumper will all be missed this season for the Lady Raiders. In addition to Cook-Taylor graduating, Texas Tech lost two other starting guards who decided to transfer. Its looking as though this team will shift from being guard oriented to dominant in the post position. If the guards are able to follow Caldwell’s lead and consistently contribute, the Raiders should be looking at a successful season.