Krista Gerlich didn’t want Jalynn Bristow’s modest answer to be the final word on the junior’s improvement.
Following Bristow’s response to a question about her summer, Gerlich shared thoughts from her perspective. Gerlich, who began her sixth season as Texas Tech women’s basketball coach Monday, made sure to give Bristow her flowers after an offseason that transformed the Holliday grad.
“I would like to answer that as well,” Gerlich said, “because I think Jalynn really committed herself this summer to being a great basketball player. I think she was not satisfied with the way her sophomore year went, because she was wanting to contribute more. I think she made that dedication and commitment in the offseason. …
“She definitely went and decided that she wanted to be a great basketball player, and I think that you’re gonna see that throughout the year.”
The 6-foot-2 forward treated the 2,978 at United Supermarkets Arena with her development. Bristow posted a team-high 19 points, nine rebounds and seven blocks in Tech’s 78-40 rout of North Carolina A&T. It was her best game as a Lady Raider, matching her career high in rebounds while setting new benchmarks in points and blocks.
Bristow attributed the scoring output — on 7 of 13 shooting — to a focus on shot selection. But her coach sees more than that. Gerlich said she’s noticed a different Bristow since Tech represented the U.S. in the World University Games over the summer. The junior led the team in points (12.7), rebounds (8.5), shooting percentage (58.2%) and 3-point percentage (41.9%) to guide Team USA to a runner-up finish.
“I’m gonna be super honest, I think confidence is one thing,” Gerlich said, “and just her knowing that we believe in her. We tried to put her in situations more on offense, especially in Germany, where she had to be the one for us. And I think she was our leading scorer almost every game that we played in Germany.
“I think she’s really appreciating the fact that we recognize her game and where she’s best at.”
Gerlich said she’s putting Bristow in more isolation, and her 3-point shooting is improved as well. The junior is also able to stay on the floor because of a rise in her defense.
“I think last year that was probably a big reason she came off the floor,” Gerlich said, “was if she got attacked on defense. So she’s really bought into that.”
Nothing made that more evident than Bristow’s seven rejections — five more than her previous career high. The lengthy forward said training sessions with her brother, 6-10 Alabama forward Keitenn Bristow, were a big part of her progress in that area.
Jalynn said her mom worked with the siblings during the summer, emphasizing one-on-one battles.
“That’s what my mom was really big on,” Jalynn said. “Like, I don’t care how tall, how strong, how short, you guard each other. It’s just that simple. She definitely had us out there, and it was, ‘No fouls. I don’t wanna hear it.'”
Monday set a high bar for Bristow, but Gerlich expects to see similar performances in the future.
“The crazy thing is how close (Bristow was) to a triple-double,” Gerlich said. “But I think you’re gonna see that happen for her a lot, especially the double-doubles with rebounds and points. We’re expecting those great things from her.”
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Jalynn Bristow’s newfound confidence on display for Texas Tech women’s basketball
Reporting by Stephen Garcia, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal / Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
