Texas Tech, Iowa State Fall in Big 12-SEC Women’s Challenge
The Texas Tech Lady Raiders and the Iowa State Cyclones both absorbed losses as the Big 12-SEC Challenge continued on Thursday.
With the losses, the SEC has a 3-0 lead in the annual showdown between two of the best women’s basketball conferences in the country.
No. 14 Iowa State lost to LSU, 69-60, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Tigers (6-1) handed the Cyclones (7-1) their first loss of the season. The Tigers are now led by Kim Mulkey, the former head coach at Baylor.
Alexis Morris led LSU with 25 points, while Khayla Pointer added 20 points.
Iowa State’s Ashley Joens had 24 points on 8-of-12 shooting, while Emily Ryan added 13 points and three assists. Aubrey Joens had a team-high 14 rebounds. Lexi Donarski added 10 points.
The 66-56 loss to No. 20 Georgia (6-0) was Texas Tech’s (6-1) first of the season. The game, played at 11 a.m. so that local elementary students could attend, saw Texas Tech take a 21-14 first-quarter lead before the Bulldogs slowly chipped away, took the lead and took control of the game. Key to that was Georgia outscoring Texas Tech 41-28 in the second half.
Khadija Faye had Texas Tech highs of 15 points and seven rebounds in the contest, while Vivian Gray added 12 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals. Faye shared the team-high in rebounds with Taylah Thomas, who also scored nine points. Que Morrison led Georgia with 20 points.
The Big 12-SEC Challenge continues on Friday as Kansas State travels to No. 1 South Carolina.
The SEC won the challenge last season, 7-1. Two of those games were cancelled due to COVID-19. The Big 12 won the challenge last in 2019.
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.
**Want to win a $20 gift card? Go sign up here and join our conversation! The best poster each week wins a gift card to your favorite establishment!**
Big 12-SEC Women’s Challenge Schedule, Results
Wednesday, December 1
No. 16 Kentucky 83, West Virginia 60
Thursday, December 2
No. 20 Georgia 66, Texas Tech 56
LSU 69, No. 14 Iowa State 60 (SEC up 3-0)
Friday, December 3
Kansas State at No. 1 South Carolina – SECN+ – 6 p.m.
Saturday, December 4
Mississippi State at Oklahoma – Bally Sports Oklahoma – 2 p.m.
Missouri at No. 5 Baylor – ESPNU – 7 p.m.
Sunday, December 5
Florida at TCU – Big 12 Now on ESPN+ – 1 p.m.
Oklahoma State at Auburn – SECN+ – 2 p.m.
Vanderbilt at Kansas – Big 12 Now on ESPN+ – 2 p.m.
No. 15 Texas at No. 17 Texas A&M – SEC Network – 3 p.m.
All times central; All rankings from AP Poll
