UCSB Can’t Stop Texas Tech

UC Santa Barbara had the size, but No. 7 Texas Tech had the speed. And the 18th-ranked Gauchos had no answer for that Thursday night in the semifinals of the women’s preseason NIT at Lubbock, Texas.

The Red Raiders (3-0), using their athleticism at both ends of the floor, defeated the Gauchos, 68-41.

Texas Tech will play host No. 15 Rutgers in Sunday’s championship game.

“We were aggressive and more athletic in several spots,” Coach Marsha Sharp said.

“When you play people who are that much bigger than you, you have to let your athleticism take over. I thought our post players did a great job of playing physical. They tried to keep their players from going where they wanted to go.”

Texas Tech, which held its third consecutive opponent to fewer than 50 points, used a 15-0 run midway through the second half to take control.

The Gauchos (2-1) pulled to within 11 points on a three-point basket by Brandy Richardson with 14:25 left. But the Red Raiders scored on their next five possessions to make it 50-30 with 11:21 to play.

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Georgia Tech 75, Hofstra 56 -- The Yellow Jackets (2-0) advanced to the semifinals of the preseason NIT by beating the Pride (1-1) at Atlanta. They will play No. 1 Connecticut on Wednesday at Madison Square Garden. In the other semifinal, Utah will play the winner of tonight’s game between Massachusetts and Texas Tech.

Villanova 73, Temple 48 -- The season opener for both schools -- which tipped off at 12:03 a.m. EST in Philadelphia -- was the result of a scheduling conflict between the schools.

NCAA rules state that Friday was the first day teams could play a nonexempt game. Since the Wildcats play four games in five days starting Saturday at Redlands, the late starting time was the only option.