No. 7 Lady Raiders face No. 2 LSU in NCAA Tournament

Texas Tech takes on host LSU in Round of 32 matchup on Sunday

Mar. 21, 2026 at 10:39pm

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The 7-seeded Texas Tech Lady Raiders will face the 2-seeded LSU Tigers in the Round of 32 of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday at 2 p.m. in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. LSU holds a 10-1 all-time record against Texas Tech, but the Lady Raiders are one of the top defensive teams in the country, ranking 29th nationally in points allowed per game.

Why it matters

This matchup features two highly ranked teams in the NCAA Tournament, with LSU hosting the game as the higher seed. Texas Tech's stifling defense will be put to the test against LSU's high-powered offense, which ranks first nationally in points per game.

The details

Texas Tech senior point guard Gemma Núñez recently eclipsed 500 assists and 500 rebounds, becoming one of 12 active players in the nation to have 500/500 in her career. The Lady Raiders are holding opponents to just 57.9 points per game this season, ranking 29th in the country. Meanwhile, LSU is averaging 95.1 points per game, the most in the nation, and has the best rebounding margin in the country at 17.1.

  • The game will tip off on Sunday, March 23, 2026 at 2 p.m. local time in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

The players

Gemma Núñez

Texas Tech senior point guard who recently joined an elite group of active players with 500 assists and 500 rebounds in her career.

Bailey Maupin

Texas Tech senior guard who is having a career season, leading the team in points per game, free throws, and three-pointers made.

Flau'jae Johnson

LSU sophomore forward who scored 20 points in the Tigers' first-round NCAA Tournament win.

Mikaylah Williams

LSU junior guard who is averaging 13.7 points per game this season.

Krista Gerlich

Texas Tech head coach who has led the Lady Raiders' stifling defense this season.

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What they’re saying

“I think our kids like the challenge. I think they like the opportunity to play against somebody that we want to limit their possessions… We're one of the top defensive teams in the country, we've taken a lot of pride in that, and this will be our greatest challenge to date, for sure.”

— Krista Gerlich, Texas Tech Head Coach

“When it comes to defense, we are hard-nosed, we're gritty, we play together. We play heavy gaps, but at the same time we also full-court press the entire game. That's something that not a lot of teams are doing anymore. That's something that West Texas basketball's known for, being in your shorts for 40 minutes and forcing you to do things that you're uncomfortable with.”

— Bailey Maupin, Texas Tech Senior Guard

What’s next

The winner of the Texas Tech-LSU matchup will advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

This game will showcase two vastly different styles of play, with Texas Tech's stifling defense looking to slow down LSU's high-powered offense. The outcome could come down to which team is able to impose its will and play to its strengths.