March 15, 2002

Box Score

By BETSY BLANEY
Associated Press Writer

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) - Tanisha Ellison scored a career-high 20 points, and Jolee Ayers had a double-double as Texas Tech beat Stephen F. Austin 84-63 Friday night in the first round of the NCAA West Regional.

Tech (19-11) had five players in double figures and never trailed, jumping out to a 14-5 lead. The 13th-seeded Ladyjacks shot only 2-for-11 in the game's first eight minutes.

Stephen F. Austin (24-6) got back into it with a 9-4 run before Tech went on a 15-8 spurt during which Ellison scored her 11 first-half points.

Tech will play Mississippi State on Sunday night in the second round of the West Regional. The Lady Bulldogs beat Boston College 65-59 in the first game Friday night.

It was the eighth straight NCAA first-round win for the fourth seeded Lady Raiders.

Ayers scored 12 points and had 10 rebounds, Jia Perkins added 19. Natalie Ritchie had 12 points, and Cisti Greenwalt had 11 for Tech.

Chaquita Dilworth scored 22, and Nathesia Wright added 11 to lead the Ladyjacks.