LUBBOCK, Tx.- Savannah State fell below .500 for the fist time this season after a 69-40 loss to Texas Tech at United Spirit Arena before a crowd of 8,944.

The loss drops the Lady Tigers to 8-9 while Tech improved to 12-2

SSU shot 45.5 percent from the field in the opening half but only made 7-of-24 shots in the second half.

Savannah State jumped out to an early 2-0 lead after a jumper by Crissa Jackson.

With the score tied at four, the Raiders held Savannah State without a field goal for over five minutes as they built a 12-5 lead.

Tech's lead expanded to nine points with 11:30 but SSU rallied to only trail 27-25 with just under five minutes left in the half.

The Raiders ended the period with 10 unanswered points to take a 37-25 advantage into the half.

Courtney Long's layup put Savannah State within 10 to start the second half but Tech answered with a 17-2 run to go ahead by 25 with 12:53 left.

SSU was able to cut their deficit to 20 with under eight minutes remaining but Texas Tech ended the half with a 22-2 run to close the game.

Alisha Nelson had 13 rebounds for SSU while Long scored 11 points.

SSU out-rebounded Texas tech 40 to 31 but made 23 turnovers.

The Raiders bench was key as they out-scored SSU's reserves 38-9.

Jordan Murphree led Tech with 16 points.