Lady Raiders Wrap Up Week Representing Team USA With Silver Medal

On3 image — Team USA Texas Tech | Rhine Ruhr 2025

Texas Tech Women’s basketball finished up their time in Germany playing as Team USA at the World University games with a 81-69 loss to the defending champion China in the Gold Medal Final. This is USA’s second consecutive silver medal going back to 2019, a team represented by Mississippi State.

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Stat Leaders

DeYona Gaston – 21 points, 8 rebounds, 1 block

Sidney Love – 15 points, 3 assists, 3 rebounds

Denae Fritz – 10 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist

Jalynn Bristow – 7 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks

👏 Team USA & @LadyRaiderWBB receive their Silver Medals at the World University Games.

"This is no doubt going to help them on to the season coming up. This experience together playing at a high level, living together. I guarantee you they have a great season coming up in the… pic.twitter.com/aghRObRPTp
— Seeing Scarlet (@SeeingScarlet_) July 25, 2025

How It Happened

The United States started this game well, which was a trend for them at this tournament, holding a 17-11 lead in the first quarter after a Jada Malone free throw line jumper forced a Team China timeout with 3:51 to play. The Chinese made a run to close the quarter with a three at the buzzer giving USA a 24-21 lead heading into the second.

It was an even scoring effort in that first quarter as all of the regulars for Team USA were aggressive and in on the action early. And while China started to make a run in the second quarter, USA closed the half well to keep it tied at 42 at half. All and all an impressive half of basketball given the circumstances, Denae Fritz led the way with 10 first half points.

China however took advantage of depth issues for the U.S. as the game wore on. Ultimately with only seven players getting time in this for USA, China smartly used their quickness and passing to tire the Americans out and find open shooters. Team China entered this game leading the entire tournament in overall FG% and team three point % as well. A group of truly impeccable shooters, art really if it wasn’t happening to USA and Texas Tech.

In total China shot a scorching 50% from three and 52% overall in their win. Really outside of that the stats were even and solid for Team USA who shot a more than respectable 43% from three and 44% from the field themselves. Rebounding numbers were dead even at 29 and USA got to the line 16 times, making 13. China did win the turnover battle 10 to 16 however, giving them an all important six extra possessions that allowed them to push out their lead to a final margin of 12 (for the math wizards out there that’s 4-6 possessions worth of scoring.)

In the end, a combination of well executed offense from China and outright exhausted Team USA players led to a lot of good looks that a team full of class shooters in China quite literally did not miss more times than not. The third quarter was really where China pushed out their lead and then the two played it even in the fourth with USA fighting, but never quite able to cut into the lead again. Well deserved win by the Chinese as they take home gold for the second consecutive World University Games.

A full breakdown of my overall takeaways on an individual and team level will come out next week. From a Texas Tech perspective there is plenty to be proud of and learn from in this. Now they enjoy their final days in Germany before heading back home to Texas to rest, recover and then the real work begins as they prepare for their NCAA season starting in November.

Tournament Stat Summary

After six games in seven days Team USA finished the tournament with four different scorers averaging double figures: DeYona Gaston (18.5), Jalynn Bristow (12.7), Denae Fritz (11.8) and Sidney Love (11.3). Adlee Blacklock also finished close by with 7.8 points per game.

Bristow, a rising junior, finished out the event fourth overall in rebounding at 8.5 a game and tenth overall in 3P% knocking down 44% of her threes. Hello big time if that translates to NCAA play.

Love, a rising senior, finished fourth overall in assists with 4.0 a game. An impressive feat as a player that was thrust into the PG role learning a new system as a transfer into Texas Tech from UTSA.

Blacklock rounds out the top ten stat leaders for Texas Tech as the rising senior led the entire tournament in free throw percentage going 17/18 (94.9%) across her six games played.