Bailey Maupin had her season high in points, but the most important thing was the time she scored.
The senior guard drained a go-ahead 3-pointer with less than two minutes left to pull within 12-5 of Texas Tech’s 71-66 victory over West Virginia on Wednesday. Maupin scored 13 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter to help the Lady Raiders erase a six-point deficit.
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With the win, No. 17 Tech (17-0, 4-0) extended its best start to the season to its only first-place finish in the Big 12.
“It’s all down to the coaches,” Maupin told ESPN+. “We have a really good game plan both offensively and defensively. Especially right now, we’re really rolling. You’re not supposed to play your best basketball in the beginning. You’re supposed to continue to get better and better, and I feel like that’s what we’re doing as a team.”
With 16 seconds left in the game, Maupin made a steal and the Lady Raiders led 66-63. After hitting one of two free throws, she blocked a pass stolen by Gemma Núñez on the next possession.
Tech won despite committing 20 turnovers, finishing with 19 points. It was the fifth time the Lady Raiders had at least 20 turnovers. Tech also played well for much of the fourth quarter, with Snuda Collins and Jalin Bristow committing four fouls. Collins scored 19 points.
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Jordan Harrison scored 22 points and Carter McCray scored 15 points for WVU. The Mountaineers scored 66 points, their most since Tech’s 80-68 victory over Arkansas. It was the fifth time the Lady Raiders had allowed at least 60 points.
Tech will continue its road trip on Saturday in Cincinnati. The Bearcats (6-10, 1-3) notched their first conference win on Wednesday, defeating No. 11 Iowa State 71-63 at home.
This article originally appeared in Lubbock Avalanche Journal: Bailey Maupin stars late as Texas Tech women’s basketball beats West Virginia