Texas Tech University Athletics
Lady Raiders Open Season with Idaho
November 10, 2008 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 10, 2008
Complete Release in PDF Format 
Game 1 vs. Idaho • November 14, 2008
United Spirit Arena (15,050) • Lubbock, Texas • 5 p.m.
The Game
Texas Tech opens the 2008-09 season on Fri., Nov. 14, by hosting Idaho at 5 p.m. at the United Spirit Arena. The game is a doubleheader with the men's basketball team as the Red Raiders host Saint Francis (Pa.) at 8 p.m. Those in attendance for the women's game can stay for the men's game, but must move to general admission seating in the south end or to their assigned seats if they are men's basketball season ticket holders.
On the Air
The game can be heard on the radio on the Texas Tech Sports Network as Ryan Hyatt calls the game. The game can also be heard on the internet at www.texastech.com through RaiderVision All-Access. Live streaming is also available through RaiderVision All-Access and live stats are available through gametracker at www.texastech.com.
The Lady Raiders
Experience. That is a word that can be used to describe this year's Texas Tech women's basketball team. The Lady Raiders return eight letterwinners, including four starters, from last year's squad that went 17-16. Tech is led by senior Dominic Seals, the 2008 Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, who led the Lady Raiders in scoring (13.9) and rebounding (8.3) last season. Seals played in all 33 games as a junior with 32 starts. Along with Seals, Tiny Henderson, Maria Moore, Alana Rumph and Keisha Walker return for their final year. Henderson and Moore saw action in all 33 games and had 16 and 25 starts, respectively. Moore led the Lady Raiders in assists (120) and steals (52) last year. Walker played in 32 games with 22 starts, while Rumph appeared in 15 contests. The junior class consists of Maddy Brown, Jordan Murphree, Ashlee Roberson and newcomer Tilmila Martin. Murphree was second on the team in scoring (9.8) as she played in all 33 games with 27 starts. Roberson also appeared in every game last year and started 11 of those, while Brown played in 19 contests with one start after missing several games with a broken foot. Martin comes to Tech from Blinn College where she averaged 15.7 points and was named MVP of Region XIV Athletic Conference. Kaylan Talley is the lone sophomore after sitting out last season. Along with Martin, Tech also welcomes three other new faces in freshmen Jordan Barncastle, Lindie Kimbro and Kierra Mallard. Barncastle was the TABC 1A Player of the Year from Martin's Mill High School, while Kimbro, who will redshirt this season, missed most of last season with an injury but was first team all-state as a junior at Jack C. Hays High School. Mallard was a first team all-state selection in her senior year at Frisco High School.
Scouting the Opponent
Idaho returns five letterwinners, including four starters, from a team that went 4-25 last year and finished WAC play with a 3-13 record. Sophomore Yinka Olorunnife is the top returner, averaging 9.0 points and 7.6 rebounds last season followed by sophomore Alana Curtis who averaged 5.0 points and 2.1 boards in 2007-08. The Vandals are a young squad with four juniors, three sophomores and three freshmen.
The Coaches
Texas Tech head coach Kristy Curry is in her third season at the helm of the Lady Raiders. Curry has compiled a record of 32-32 at Tech and a career record of 211-83 in nine years. Jon Newlee is in his first year as head coach of the Vandals after spending the last six years at Idaho State. Newlee has a career record of 93-82 in his six years as a Division I head coach.
Series Record
It is the first between Texas Tech and Idaho.
Season Openers
Texas Tech is 22-11 in season openers and 2-0 in the Kristy Curry era. Last year, Tech defeated UCF, 72-57, in its season opener on Nov. 9, in Orlando, Fla., at the UCF Knights Classic.
Home Openers
Texas Tech owns a 30-3 mark in home openers and 2-0 in the Kristy Curry era. Last year, Tech defeated IPFW, 72-51, in its home opener on Nov. 13.
Last Time Out
Exhibition Game 2
In its final tune-up for the 2008-09 season, the Texas Tech women's basketball team defeated the Houston Jaguars, 94-68, in an exhibition game on Nov. 9.
Leading the entire game, the Lady Raiders got out to a 17-point lead in the first 11 minutes and led by as many as 19 points in the first half. Tech went in at the half with a 44-30 advantage over the Jaguars, who consist of former collegiate players.
In the final 20 minutes of play, Tech shot 54.8 percent from the field, connecting on 17-of-31 shot attempts. Freshman Jordan Barncastle had the hot hand in the second half as she scored 10 of her 13 points in the second period. Tech led by as many as 29 points three times, the last time coming with 2:12 remaining in the game on a layup by junior Tilmila Martin.
The Lady Raiders had six players score in double figures led by junior Jordan Murphree's 16 points. Martin added 15 points followed by Barncastle with 13, senior Dominic Seals with 12, senior Maria Moore 11 and freshman Kierra Mallard with 10. Barncastle just missed a double-double as she grabbed nine rebounds.
Mallard helped dominate the inside game coming away with a game-high five blocks, while senior Tiny Henderson finished with a game-high five assists.
On the day, the Lady Raiders shot 52.4 percent from the field (33-of-63) and 80 percent from the free throw line (24-of-30). Tech held the Jaguars to a 36.2 shooting percentage. Tech also outrebounded the Jaguars 43-to-39.
Sikeetha Shepard led the Houston Jaguars with 20 points.
Texas Tech defeated the Melbourne Roos, 109-27, on Nov. 2 in its first exhibition game. The Lady Raiders dominated from the opening tip as they scored 56 points in the first half and held the Roos to just eight points in the first 20 minutes of play.
Coming back after the half, Tech's goal was to hold the Roos below 30 points for the game and it did just that, allowing 19 points in the second half en route to the 82-point victory.
All 10 players suited up for Tech scored in the game, led by senior Dominic Seals' 22 points and 15 rebounds, while junior Maddy Brown had 18 points and senior Keisha Walker tallied 16. Also scoring in double figures for the Lady Raiders were senior Maria Moore with 12, junior Jordan Murphree with 11 and freshman Kierra Mallard with 10. Mallard finished with a double-double by adding 13 boards and Moore had game highs of seven assists and five steals.
On the day, Tech shot 52.2 percent from the field, connecting on 47 of 90 shots and held the Roos to a 15.6 shooting percentage (10-of-64). The Lady Raiders outrebounded the Roos 66 to 30.
A Look Ahead
Texas Tech hosts Washington State on Sun., Nov. 16, at 2 p.m. The following week includes home games with Lamar on Fri., Nov. 21, at 7 p.m., and Texas-Arlington on Sun., Nov. 23, at 2 p.m. The Lady Raiders hit the road for the first time by playing in the Paradise Jam in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. Tech faces Iowa on Thurs., Nov. 27, at 5 p.m. CST, California on Fri., Nov. 28, at 7:30 p.m. CST, and South Florida on Sat., Nov. 29, at 5 p.m. CST.
New Faces
The Lady Raiders have five new additions to this year's roster. Sophomore Kaylan Talley redshirted last year after suffering a torn ACL during the 2007 summer. Tech welcomed four new faces to campus this year in junior Tilmila Martin and freshmen Jordan Barncastle, Lindie Kimbro and Kierra Mallard.
Class Breakdown
This year's teams consists of five seniors - Tiny Henderson, Maria Moore, Alana Rumph, Dominic Seals and Keisha Walker; four juniors - Maddy Brown, Tilmila Martin, Jordan Murphree and Ashlee Roberson; one sophomore - Kaylan Talley; and three freshmen - Jordan Barncastle, Lindie Kimbro and Kierra Mallard.
Across the Nation
The 13 Lady Raiders hail from four states across the country with 10 coming from the state of Texas. Junior Maddy Brown is from the furthest east, hailing from Honeoye Falls, N.Y., while senior Maria Moore is from the furthest west coming from Sparks, Nev. And senior Keisha Walker calls Kansas City, Mo., home.
Degree in Hand
Senior Tiny Henderson graduated in August 2008 with a degree in exercise and sports science. Henderson is currently working on a master's degree in sports management.
On the Tube
Texas Tech will have 11 regular-season games televised this season. The Lady Raiders will appear on FSN twice, FSN Rocky Mountain (FSNRM) and Mountain West Sports Network (MWSN) once each and the Texas Tech Television Network (TTTN) seven times. Tech will play at New Mexico (Dec. 13) on MWSN. The Lady Raiders host Baylor (Jan. 24) and play at Nebraska (Feb. 14) both on FSN. Tech's seven games on the TTTN include UNLV (Dec. 2), UCLA (Dec. 29), Kansas State (Jan. 21), Oklahoma (Feb. 17), Iowa State (Feb. 28) at Oklahoma (Mar. 4) and Missouri (Mar. 7).
Follow the Lady Raiders
All Lady Raider basketball games can be heard live on the Texas Tech Sports Network on KFYO-AM 790 and KKCL-FM 98.1 locally. Listen to play-by-play by Ryan Hyatt as he takes the court with the Lady Raiders. The following radio stations will air the Lady Raider basketball games this season:
Haskell/Abilene - KVRP-FM (97.1)
Hereford - KPAN-AM/FM (860/106.3)
Lamesa - KPET-AM (690)
Lubbock - KFYO-AM/KKCL-FM (790/98.1)
Plainview - KVOP-AM (1090)
Lady Raider Basketball with Kristy Curry
Kristy Curry's weekly television show, Lady Raider Basketball with Kristy Curry, will be televised every Sunday starting Jan. 4. The show will air on FOX34 at 10 p.m. and My Lubbock TV at 10:30 p.m.
The Kristy Curry Radio Show
The Kristy Curry Radio Show will be held each Monday starting Jan. 5 from 6-7 p.m. The show will air on KFYO-AM 790 locally. The show will be held at Dion's located at 2721 82nd Street. There will not be a show on Mon., Feb. 2, but rather on Tues., Feb. 3, as the Lady Raiders have a home game on Feb. 2.
