Lubbock, Texas ? Kansas University coach Marian Washington wasn’t the first high-profile woman to be lost to a Big 12 Conference basketball team for undisclosed medical reasons.

A couple of weeks before Washington’s surprise announcement Thursday, Texas Tech officials disclosed that senior guard Jia Perkins, the Red Raiders’ leading scorer, had left the team for an unspecified medical reason.

Now Kansas without Washington and Tech without Perkins will collide tonight.

Tipoff will be at 7 p.m. at United Spirit Arena, where the Raiders are averaging a conference-best 12,228 fans per game.

“It is a tough environment,” KU interim coach Lynette Woodard said of the Raiders’ venue, “but awesome for women to play in that type of environment. We just have to respond to the challenge.”

Texas Tech has had some problems responding to the loss of Perkins, losing two of its last five outings — including a stunning double-overtime loss to Oklahoma State, a team Tech had stampeded by 53 points earlier.

Kansas is coming off a 74-61 victory Saturday over that same O-State team. It was KU’s first game in nearly 31 years without Washington on the sidelines.

“All we can do is take one day at a time — and not even that,” Woodard said. “One step at a time.”

With the departure of Perkins, freshman Alesha Robertson leads the Raiders in scoring at 12.3 points per game. Point guard Erin Grant leads the league in turnover margin and is second in assists.

“We just have to respond to the challenge,” Woodard said. “There have been all kinds of adjustments around here. We’re just going to stay focused and do the best job we can.”

Despite the loss of Perkins, Texas Tech still has a glossy 18-3 record and is ranked No. 9 in the Associated Press poll. All three losses have been to conference teams. Kansas is 9-9 overall and 2-5 in the league.

Woodard has been in daily contact with Washington since Thursday’s announcement.

“Of course, she was very happy for the team (after the OSU win),” Woodard said. “She loves these players and wants them to do well. Whenever they step up and respond and just play with their hearts, it’s great for all of us.”

Kansas will have another road game Saturday against Nebraska. The Jayhawks’ next home game will be a week from today against Kansas State.