Preview: Struggling Houston Faces Undefeated Texas Tech in Big 12 Women’s Basketball

LUBBOCK, Texas (Interstat) — The unbeaten and No. 1-ranked Texas Tech Lady Raiders put their perfect record on the line Tuesday night when they host the reeling Houston Cougars in a Big 12 Conference women’s basketball matchup at United Spirit Arena.

Texas Tech (18-0, 3-0 Big 12) is one of the nation’s last remaining undefeated teams, coming off a 71-60 road victory at Cincinnati on Saturday. The Lady Raiders have navigated a tough early conference slate, including a dramatic 61-60 win at Baylor last month, with a balanced attack and stout defense.

Senior guard Denae Fritz has been a consistent force, averaging 9.7 points over her last six games. She scored 13 points in the win at Cincinnati. Bailey Maupin and Snudda Collins each added 17 points in that contest, highlighting the team’s multiple scoring threats.

Houston (6-10, 0-3) arrives in West Texas mired in a five-game losing streak, most recently a 79-64 home loss to BYU. The Cougars have struggled defensively during the skid, allowing an average of 78.8 points per game.

Guard Kyndall Hunter is Houston’s primary offensive catalyst. She erupted for 19 points in 30 minutes against BYU, but her production has fluctuated. Supporting scorers like Kierra Merchant, who had 18 points against BYU, will need to provide consistent help for the Cougars to challenge the league leaders.

The matchup presents a stark contrast in trajectories. Texas Tech aims to continue its historic start and solidify its hold atop the conference, while Houston desperately seeks a signature win to reverse its fortunes. The Lady Raiders won both meetings last season by an average of 32 points.

Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CST Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026.

Texas Tech’s next game is at home against Kansas State on Saturday. Houston returns home to face Utah on Saturday.