Ford, new-look La. Tech upset Texas Tech

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Trina Frierson tackled teammate Cheryl Ford in a celebration at midcourt after the buzzer punctuated Louisiana Tech's victory over No. 7 Texas Tech on Sunday.

The Lady Techsters (No. 15 ESPN/USA Today; No. 16 AP) beat Texas Tech 85-76, delivering a victory to new coach Kurt Budke in his debut. Budke, who succeeded Leon Barmore after 17 seasons, apologized for the larger than normal celebration, but wasn't upset by the show of emotion. "There's been a lot of pressure on these girls,'' Budke said. "We're not going to do that after every game.'' Ford, the daughter of NBA star Karl Malone, had 24 points and 15 rebounds as Louisiana Tech opened the women's college basketball season with a victory in the State Farm Tipoff Classic. Ford, the lone Louisiana Tech senior, was backed by Erica Smith's 17 points and Frierson's 16. Ford said the game was different without Barmore, who retired in August. "Of course, we miss him,'' Ford said. "We need a good coach behind us and coach Budke is it.'' Budke, a former Louisiana Tech assistant, follows a coach who had a 576-87 record, the best career winning percentage among men's or women's coaches. Barmore and Texas Tech coach Marsha Sharp will be inducted in the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame next spring. Texas Tech's Plenette Pierson finished with 25 points. She was suspended last season for unspecified reasons after the first four games and missed the rest of the season. Jia Perkins added 16 points and Erin Grant had 13. The Lady Techsters, who improved to 25-4 in season openers, did not trail after taking the lead four minutes into the game. The Lady Raiders tied it at 46 after Grant made a free throw with 17:38 remaining to cap a 14-5 run that began in the first half. But Frierson was fouled twice and made all four free throws and Amber Obaze got a steal and a basket to put Louisiana Tech up 52-46 with 16:15 to go. The Lady Raiders closed within 58-57 with 12:28 remaining after Perkins' basket. But Louisiana Tech answered with two baskets by Frierson and a three-point play by Tamaka Clay to stretch the lead to eight. Pierson had nine points in the opening minutes, but Louisiana Tech took advantage when she went to the bench midway through the first half. The Lady Techsters used a 13-6 run to go ahead 31-24 with 7:25 left in the half. Pierson finally went back into the game but was held scoreless for nearly 10 minutes before hitting a basket with 1:10 to go, cutting Louisiana Tech's lead to 41-33 left.