Young Texas Tech Surprises No. 4 Stanford, 71-65

Stanford defeated then No.2 Tennessee by 18 points 12 days ago. Texas Tech had lost to the Lady Vols by 37 in the third game of the season. By comparison, the Lady Raiders had no business being on the same court with the fourth-ranked Cardinal.

But that’s why they play the games.

Tech overcame a rash of unforced turnovers and came up with two crucial steals in the final minute to upset Stanford, 71-65, Thursday before a crowd of 9,247 at Lubbock Municipal Coliseum. The victory was the 19th consecutive at home for the No. 15 Lady Raiders (8-2) and gave them a 2-1 edge on Top 25 competition this season.

“This should help us get back into the top 10,” said post Michi Atkins, who contributed 25 points and 12 rebounds.

The victory was the biggest for Tech since a triumph at then-No. 2 Vanderbilt in November 1993 and was reminiscent of a similar victory against then-No. 6 Stanford in Lubbock two games later.

“A lot of kids made a lot of big plays tonight,” Tech coach Marsha Sharp said. “I’m really thrilled with this victory. It has to rank among the bigger ones we’ve ever had. And it certainly should be a confidence builder for a young team. This is the kind of game that helps you grow up.”

The game was fitting of one between two of the nation’s top women’s collegiate programs. Stanford has won two NCAA championships in the 1990s (1990 and ‘92) and has been a Final Four team four times in the past six seasons, including 1994-95. Tech won a national title in 1993 and has been in the Sweet 16 each of the past four seasons.

“We knew if we came in and doubted ourselves it would be a tough game,” said sophomore forward Alicia Thompson, who scored 18 points and had two breakaway baskets in the last 2 minutes, 19 seconds. “But we also knew we could win if we played 40 minutes of basketball.”

The teams traded the lead eight times, but the Lady Raiders led most of the night. They twice led by eight, the game’s largest margin.

A key was that the Lady Raiders committed only eight of their 25 turnovers in the second half as Stanford played more zone defense. And Tech freshman guard Rene Hanebutt of Bowie came up with her only two steals on late successive Stanford possessions. Both led to baskets.

One was a 15-foot jumper by Atkins for a 69-65 lead with 25.9 seconds to play. The other was off a tipped pass. Hanebutt threw the outlet that Thompson took the distance for the game’s final points with 12.8 seconds remaining.

“We were outplayed, outworked and out-hustled,” said Stanford interim head coach Amy Tucker, who is subbing for Tara VanDerveer, the women’s senior national and Olympic team coach.

Cardinal forward Vanessa Nygaard and backup center Naomi Mulitauaopele combined for 38 points. But preseason All-American forward Kate Starbird scored only nine points - half her average - against Tech’s zone defense. Stanford, which carried a 47.2 percent shooting average at tipoff, made only 36.8 percent of its shots. Tech made 50 percent of its shots each half.

“Kate Starbird will never go 4-for-20 again,” Tucker said.

Texas Tech 71, Stanford 65

Stanford (6-2) - Nygaard 9-17 0-0 23, Mulitauaopele 4-12 7-9 15, Starbird 4-20 1-4 9, Wideman 3-6 3-5 9, Scott 3-9 0-0 6, Kelsey 1-6 0-0 3, Smith 0-0 0-0 0, Benton 0-0 0-0 0, Harrington 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-70 11-18 65.

Texas Tech (8-2) - Atkins 10-15 5-7 25, Thompson 7-15 4-8 18, Hanebutt 4-12 4-6 14, White 4-5 2-3 10, Lake 2-5 0-0 4, Sumrall 0-2 0-0 0, Boles 0-0 0-0 0, Parker 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 27-54 15-24 71.

Halftime-Tech 33, Stanford 26. 3-Point goals-Stanford 6-22 (Nygaard 5-10, Kelsey 1-4, Starbird 0-6, Wideman 0-2), Tech 2-6 (Hanebutt 2-4, Lake 0-1, Lake 0-1). Fouled out-Scott. Rebounds-Stanford 38 (Nygaard, Starbird 7), Tech 45 (Atkins 12). Assists-Stanford 17 (Wideman 5), Tech 23 (Hanebutt 6). Total fouls-Stanford 21, Tech 10. A-9,247.