Bailey Maupin and-1 ignites Texas Tech in WNIT second-round win over SMU

Bailey Maupin provided a spark when the Texas Tech women's basketball team needed it most — even if she deflected credit to her teammates.

The Big 12 Conference all-freshman honoree converted a tough layup and the ensuing free throw to thwart SMU's third-quarter push. The play gave the Lady Raiders the lead, which they held to the end to dispatch the Mustangs 61-49 in a Women's National Invitation Tournament second-round matchup Monday at United Supermarkets Arena.

Maupin finished with a game-high 21 points, leading the team in scoring for a second consecutive contest.

"We kind of got away from our game plan, and I feel like that and-1 play kind of got us back," Maupin said, "snapped us back into our game plan. We kind of just took care of business from there."

After trailing by double digits at halftime, the Mustangs (17-13) came racing out of the gate to start the second half. SMU scored 13 unanswered, including five points by Florida State transfer Savannah Wilkinson, to take its first lead since it was 5-4 in the opening minutes.

Maupin halted the run with a three-point play that put Tech back in front 34-33. She scored seven points in the frame to help the Lady Raiders right the ship. Tech led 43-38 after holding the Mustangs to five points over the final six minutes of the third quarter.

Even with the scoring outburst, part of her 17 second-half points, Maupin heaped the praise on her fellow Lady Raiders.

"I just feel like my teammates put me in really good positions to score, and I had the opportunity," Maupin said. "And (coach Krista Gerlich) always says if you have the opportunity, take it. So that's what we all did."

Gerlich and the home crowd of 4,412 recognized Maupin's effort. The ovation the Gruver native garnered as she checked out late in the game was rivaled only by the roar following her and-1.

"It was a great, game-changing play," Gerlich said. "It was a great energy giver. Our crowd got really involved at that point. It was really fun to see her toughness to finish a play like that."

SMU coach Toyelle Wilson took notice of Maupin as well. The Mustangs were the fifth consecutive team to allow the freshman to reach double figures.

"I told the girls she's instant offense," Wilson said. "That was the scout. She's going to come in and really be able to look to score. She can score at all three levels. She can create her own shot. … To only be a freshman, that's pretty awesome. But she's going to have a great career."

The defense that helped Tech (20-14) build the first-half lead returned in the fourth quarter. The Mustangs shot 3 of 14 (21.4%) in the final frame, which the Lady Raiders started with six consecutive points to build an 11-point advantage.

Gerlich said the strategy late was to get Maupin driving to the basket to try and draw a fifth foul on SMU's Jasmine Smith. The Mustangs' leading scorer netted 16 points but slowed after a hot start. Wilkinson added 12 points for SMU.

Tech established control with a 7-0 spurt to break an early tie. Smith scored SMU's first nine points, shooting 4 of 5 in the opening quarter. But the rest of the Mustangs were 1 of 10 from the field as the Lady Raiders built an 18-11 lead.

Smith was scoreless in a second period that was rough for both squads. Tech committed five turnovers in the frame but led 31-20 after holding SMU to nine points. The Mustangs shot 4 of 13 (30.8%) with six of their eight turnovers. SMU shot 31% in the opening half and 32.1% for the game.

Bre'Amber Scott tallied 11 points and seven rebounds, with Bryn Gerlich adding 10 points. The seniors will get at least one more game as the Lady Raiders advanced to the WNIT's Super 16. Tech will face Arkansas, which beat Stephen F. Austin 60-37 on Monday in Fayetteville, Ark.

The third-round matchup is set for 7 p.m. Friday at Arkansas.

Despite the disappointment of not hosting, the Lady Raiders are excited to see their season continue.

"I feel like what makes us special is how much we love each other and want it for each other," Scott said, "because we could've all given up a long time ago. We could've said, 'No, we don't want to play in the WNIT.' But we love each other, and we want to build this program up, like we're doing. But we want to go out and win a championship.

"So if we're gonna play in it, why not try and go win it all?"

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Bailey Maupin ignites Texas Tech in WNIT second-round win over SMU