With four starters returning from last season’s finale, the Texas Tech women’s basketball team has a solid core with experience in the program.
That’s not to say the Lady Raiders didn’t get busy on the recruiting trail. The team welcomed six transfers and one high-school signee during the offseason, making up for six players who left the program either because of graduation or the transfer portal.
Tech coach Krista Gerlich has gushed about the athleticism and length of her 2024-25 squad, adding the team has depth at each position. Where the newcomers fit is to be determined, but there’s little question they will play crucial roles in the Lady Raiders’ quest to compete in a new-look Big 12.
Here’s the lowdown on the new faces expected to make immediate impacts.
Denae Fritz, guard, Baylor transfer
5-foot-11 redshirt junior from Maryville, Tenn.
Fritz is one of two additions who join with Big 12 experience. She’s seen two other conference programs in Iowa State and most recently Baylor. Fritz spent one season with the Bears after two at ISU.
Fritz, the 2021 Class 3A Miss Tennessee recipient, saw limited action at Baylor. She appeared in 25 games but averaged 8.2 minutes. It was a far cry from her last season with the Cyclones.
Fritz made the all-Big 12 freshman team after averaging 8.8 points and 4.6 rebounds in 31 starts for an ISU team that won the conference tournament. The Cyclones finished 22-10 after falling to 12-seed Toledo in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
She shot 33.9 percent from 3-point range with 43 makes during that 2022-23 campaign.
Gerlich touted Fritz’s big-game experience as an important asset to the team.
Jalynn Bristow, forward, Iowa State transfer
6-foot-2 sophomore from Holliday
Fritz isn’t the only one who fits that bill. Bristow got to the big dance in her collegiate debut with ISU last season. The Cyclones reached the NCAA Tournament second round before falling to Cameron Brink and 2-seed Stanford.
“There’s no doubt that when we got to the portal we were looking for kids that had experience of winning big games and playing in the (NCAA) Tournament” Gerlich said on the first day of practice.
“Both (Fritz and Bristow) have done that. I think that they bring a different mentality. They really want to help us get there and they know what it takes,” the Lady Raiders coach added.
Bristow started her high school career at Wichita Falls Rider before transferring to Holliday. She led the Eagles to the 3A state championship in her only season. She was part of ISU’s highest-rated recruiting class in history that included star Audi Crooks.
Bristow started two of the 33 games she played last season. She averaged 5.1 points and 3.7 rebounds in 15.1 minutes per game. Bristow made 22 three-pointers while shooting 37.9%.
In her first game at United Supermarkets Arena, Bristow shot 4 of 4, including 2 of 2 from deep, to score 10 points off the bench. Tech beat ISU 71-63.
Adlee Blacklock, guard, Oregon State transfer
6-foot junior from Lubbock
Blacklock is perhaps the most recognizable newcomer. She is back in town after two seasons at Oregon State. She started high school at Trinity Christian before finishing at Lubbock-Cooper.
Blacklock got off to a promising start for the Beavers. She started five of her 24 games as a freshman, averaging 6.0 points and 1.5 rebounds on 14.5 minutes per game. The highlight was a 22-point outing in an upset of then-No. 14 Arizona. Blacklock’s 46.5% mark (33 makes) from 3-point range led the Pac-12 and was the second-best rate in program history.
She saw her playing time decrease the following year. Last season, Blacklock appeared in 26 games with no starts, playing 9.0 minutes per game. She averaged 3.5 points and 0.8 rebounds.
Gerlich praised Blacklock’s personality and said the hometown connection is not to be overlooked.
“We want to bring those hometown kids back,” Gerlich said in August. “It’s awesome to have her here. I’ve known her since she was probably in the eighth grade. She works extremely hard. She’s everybody’s favorite. She’s gelled with the team really well. And I love walking into every store in Lubbock and them asking me about her. I think that’s super important. That just tells me we’re gonna have a lot of people in the stands.”
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech women’s basketball: Top 3 newcomers ahead of 2024-25 season
