Texas Tech 72; UC-Santa Barbara 68

LUBBOCK, Texas, March 26 (UPI) -- Jia Perkins scored 23 points Tuesday night to lead No. 2 seed Texas Tech past UC-Santa Barbara, 72-68, in the second round of the NCAA Midwest Regional.

Perkins made 10-of-17 field goal attempts and added three rebounds and three steals as the Lady Raiders improved their NCAA Tournament home record to 20-1.

Texas Tech (28-5) led by eight points at halftime after holding the Gauchos to 37 percent (10-for-27) shooting from the field in the first half.

Plenette Pierson had 15 points, nine rebounds and five assists for the Lady Raiders, who are 11-3 all-time in second-round NCAA Tournament games.

Natalie Ritchie scored 11 points and Erin Gran chipped in 10 for Texas Tech, which faces sixth-seeded New Mexico on Saturday in its ninth "Sweet 16" appearance.

Lindsay Taylor scored 26 points and grabbed nine rebounds, and Jess Hansen contributed 17 points for Santa Barbara (27-5), which failed to make its first-ever appearance in the round of 16.

The Gauchos committed 17 turnovers, which led to 21 points by Texas Tech, and made just six trips to the free throw line in the second half.