The Lady Raiders have posted their most impressive non-conference run under Krista Gerlich, yet attendance numbers haven't reflected that.
After years of hosting middling mid-major competition, the Texas Tech women's basketball team's home schedule underwent a glow-up this season.
That included a stretch of Power 4 opponents at United Supermarkets Arena in which the Lady Raiders answered with three wins — two over SEC foes.
Yet more people watched Tech face Houston Christian last season than any of those matchups.
The Lady Raiders, who are 12-0 entering their final non-conference game Wednesday, boast their most impressive early résumé of the Krista Gerlich era. The team is not only winning, but winning big. All but three victories have been by 20-plus points. That's caught the attention of national-poll voters and placed them in the top 25 of NET rankings.
So, why hasn't attendance matched the on-court product?
Tech posted its worst-attended season opener under Gerlich with 2,978 watching the team play North Carolina A&T. In fact, it was the smallest home crowd since Gerlich took over, pandemic season of 2020-21 notwithstanding.
Pointing to the opponent? OK. The smallest crowd from 2024-25 — 3,584 in the opener against UIW — was still more than five of seven home games this year. The exceptions were the Arkansas game in which the 1992-93 national-champion team was inducted into the Ring of Honor and the Mississippi State contest, which drew 68 more than the UIW showing.
Four of the six worst turnouts in non-pandemic campaigns under Gerlich have been this year, despite the success.
The coach feels part of the reason may be tied to fans' perception of the team.
"I think more than anything, people probably are doubting us and what we can do," Gerlich said.
And if you haven't been paying attention recently, that's fair. The Lady Raiders have finished above .500 three seasons in a row — the past two by one game — but haven't reached the NCAA Tournament since 2013. Big 12 play has not been kind, either.
Doubt is understandable. It's also reasonable to suspect Tech's other successes have played a role. In a football-crazed state, it's hard to dismiss the impact the Red Raiders' run to their first Big 12 championship and College Football Playoff berth have had on attention to November basketball.
"I think there's been a lot of Red Raider sports going on," Gerlich said, "so I think there's probably a little bit of fan fatigue, if you will. But I've been pleased with our crowds. … I think it's more so that we've just had so many things going on here, that it's just a lot. I'm expecting our crowd to really rev up during conference play."
History says that should be the case. As the sports calendar opens up and the stakes rise, attendance does increase. Since the pandemic, the Lady Raiders have averaged at least 4,488 at home in Big 12 games. That was last year, and the two seasons before averaged more than 5,000.
Entering Wednesday’s Education Day matinee, an annual boost to attendance (and high-pitched noise), Tech home crowds averaged 3,484. The non-conference slate outside Education Day last year averaged 4,088.
It's perhaps a marginal decline, but given the Tech team taking the floor, it seems more stark. The offense is smoother than in recent memory and averaging 77.3 points per game. Gerlich also pointed to a defense-first approach she said West Texans appreciate.
The Lady Raiders are coming off a neutral-site game against ACU in Odessa. Gerlich said the decision was part being without United Supermarkets Arena because of graduation ceremonies and part giving Tech fans in that region a chance to watch the team. Gerlich said a neutral-site contest against UNLV at West Texas A&M in 2021 increased season-ticket interest from the Panhandle, too.
The Lady Raiders open conference play at Baylor this Sunday before hosting UCF on New Year's Eve. It could be tough to draw a big crowd on a holiday, but the team deserves one. Tech should be a significant favorite, but the game's importance is part of the big picture. The Lady Raiders have the best shot in years to end their NCAA Tournament drought. Conference play is going to determine their fate. Taking care of underdogs at home should be the minimum standard.
Those who have watched this team from the jump know it's a different group. Those who haven't shouldn't wait much longer. Gerlich promises you won't be disappointed.
"I think if they come and watch one game, we'll hook them,” Gerlich said, "because our kids play so hard. We're obviously playing really good defense, and I know that Lady Raider nation respects and appreciates hard-nosed defense. We're playing an exciting brand of basketball; we're sharing the ball; we've got a lot of offensive weapons, so we're scoring the basketball a lot better. …
“We have been so appreciative of the ones that have been there, but we certainly can lead this conference in attendance if Lady Raider nation will come just take a peek."
Avalanche-Journal reporter Nathan Giese contributed to this story.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech women's basketball attendance down despite impressive start
Category: General Sports
