Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech and TCU Meet Up in WNIT Third Round
March 24, 2008 | Men's Tennis
March 24, 2008
Complete Release in PDF Format 
2008 Postseason WNIT • Third Round
Texas Tech (17-15) vs. TCU (22-11)
March 26, 2008 • United Spirit Arena (15,050)
Lubbock, Texas • 7 p.m.
The Game
Two former Southwest Conference foes meet this week as Texas Tech (17-15) hosts TCU (22-11) in the third round of the 2008 Postseason WNIT on Wed., March 26, at 7 p.m., at the United Spirit Arena. It is the 38th meeting between the two schools and the first time the two have met since the 1999-2000 season. The winner of the game will advance to the fourth round of the WNIT and face the winner of the Villanova-Colorado/Gonzaga game.
On the Air
There is no television coverage of this game. The game can be heard on the radio on the Texas Tech Sports Network as Ryan Hyatt and Crystal Boles call the game. The game can also be heard on the internet at www.texastech.com through RaiderVision All-Access.
The Lady Raiders
Texas Tech is 17-15 on the year and finished Big 12 play tied for 10th with a 4-12 record. The Lady Raiders are making their first Postseason WNIT appearance. On the year, junior Dominic Seals paces the Lady Raiders in scoring with a 14.1 average followed by sophomore Jordan Murphree at 9.7 and senior Erin Myrick at 9.2. Seals is the top rebounder, grabbing 8.5 boards per outing and Myrick is averaging 5.5 rebounds. Myrick is shooting a team-high 50.7 percent from the field and Murphree is shooting 30.2 percent from three-point range. Seals is 71.2 percent from the free throw line. Junior Maria Moore has team highs of 116 assists and 52 steals. Seals is the top shot blocker with 47 blocks. Tech is shooting 41.1 percent from the field, 28.9 percent from three-point range and 67.6 percent from the charity stripe.
Scouting the Opponent
TCU enters the game with a 22-11 overall record and finished second in the Mountain West Conference with a 13-3 record. The Horned Frogs easily defeated Boise State, 85-56, in second round action of the WNIT last Sunday in Fort Worth. In that game, senior Adrianne Ross scored a team-high 22 points and senior Lorie Butler-Rayford finished with 20 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Senior Helen Roden chipped in 11 points. Senior Moneka Knight dished out seven assists, while Butler-Rayford and Ross both had four steals.
On the year, Ross leads the Horned Frogs in scoring with a 13.6 average followed by Butler-Rayford at 11.2. Butler-Rayford is the top rebounder, averaging 7.4 boards per contest. Knight has a team-high 100 assists and Ross leads the team in steals with 84. Freshman Micah Garoutte is the top shot blocker with 16 blocks. TCU is shooting 41.4 percent from the field, 32.2 percent from the three-point arc and 68.1 percent from the free throw line.
The Coaches
Texas Tech head coach Kristy Curry is in her second year at the helm of the Lady Raider basketball program with a 32-31 record. Curry is in her ninth year as a head coach with a career record of 211-82.
Jeff Mittie is in his ninth year as head coach of the Horned Frogs, establishing a record of 195-94. He is also in his 16th year as a head coach with a career record of 346-153.
Series Record
The two former Southwest Conference foes are meeting for the 38th time in the series as Texas Tech has never lost to TCU, holding a 37-0 advantage. The two teams are meeting for the first time since the 1999-2000 season when the Lady Raiders defeated the Horned Frogs, 63-57, Dec. 22, 1999, in Fort Worth. Tech is 15-0 against TCU in Lubbock.
Common Opponents
Texas Tech and TCU have had four common opponents this season in Houston, SMU, Texas A&M and Oklahoma State. Tech defeated SMU and lost to Houston. The Lady Raiders fell twice to Texas A&M and Oklahoma State. TCU beat Oklahoma State and lost to SMU, Texas A&M and Houston.
Last Time Out
Ashlee Roberson had career highs of 22 points and 12 rebounds, while Dominic Seals added 24 points, as Texas Tech advanced to the third round of the Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) with an 82-49 win Saturday over Texas State at the United Spirit Arena.
To go along with her 24 points, Seals grabbed 11 rebounds for her ninth double-double of the season, her first since facing Texas January 20. Roberson's 22 points and 12 rebounds were good enough for her second career double-double.
Tech (17-15) led for the majority of the game, as the Lady Raiders jumped out to a 15-6 lead within the first eight minutes, forcing six Bobcat turnovers in that time.
The Lady Raiders headed into halftime with a 39-21 lead, committing only two turnovers, a season low. Texas State (21-11) would pull within 12 points with 14:51 remaining at 43-31, but Tech responded with eight-straight points. The Bobcats would never get any closer. Tech finished the game shooting 42.9 percent from the field, while holding Texas State to 22.9 percent, which was an opponent season low for the Lady Raiders.
Points in the paint would be the biggest factor as Tech outscored Texas State 40-12 inside. The Bobcats would also commit 19 turnovers to Tech's 11, one shy of its season low.
Ashley Cole and Victoria Davis led the Bobcats with 13 points each, while Joyce Ekworomadu added 10. Jordan Murphree chipped in 11 points for Tech.
The Lady Raiders outrebounded Texas State 50-47.
Curry Captures 200th Career Win
Head coach Kristy Curry captured her 200th career win in the victory over Kennesaw State Nov. 23. Curry enters the game with a career record of 211-82.
Big 12 Honors for Seals
Junior Dominic Seals was named the 2008 Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, while being named second team All-Big 12 and to the All-Rookie team. The league honors were voted on by the Big 12 coaches and coaches can not vote for their own players.
Murphree, Myrick Receive Academic Honors
Sophomore Jordan Murphree and senior Erin Myrick were both named Academic All-Big 12 first team and to the CoSIDA ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VI second team. Murphree, a native of Brock, Texas, has a 3.5 GPA in exercise and sport science, while the Duarte, Calif., native Myrick has a 3.6 GPA. Myrick graduated cum laude last May with a degree in broadcast journalism with minors in English and Spanish and is currently working on a second degree in public relations. Murphree was also selected to the Big 12 Winter Sports Good Works Team.
Against the Top 25
Texas Tech is 2-9 against teams ranked in the top 25. The Lady Raiders got their first top 25 win of the season as they defeated then No. 18/19 Arizona State, 73-69, on Dec. 18. The Sun Devils were the first top 25 team Tech faced this season. Tech fell at then No. 25/21 Arkansas, 80-57, on Jan. 5, and lost to then No. 8/8 Baylor, 72-67, on Jan. 9. The Lady Raiders beat then No. 24/23 Texas, 70-58, on Jan. 20, before losing at then No. 11/11 Oklahoma, 78-39, on Jan. 23. Tech lost at home to then No. 23 Texas A&M, 63-46, on Feb. 2. The Lady Raiders fell at then No. 5/5 Baylor, 66-45, Feb. 9, and suffered a heart-breaking loss to then No. 15/15 Oklahoma State, 58-56, Feb. 14. Tech lost at then No. 20/19 Texas A&M, 70-56, Feb. 17, and then got beat at home by then No. 10/10 Oklahoma, 65-56, Feb 27. The Lady Raiders fell at then No. 17/19 Oklahoma State, 73-54, March 1. Last year, the Lady Raiders beat three top 25 teams (UCLA, Texas, Nebraska).
Ninth Double-Double Comes for Seals
Junior Dominic Seals had 24 points and 11 rebounds against Texas State for her ninth double-double of the season. It was her first double-double since Jan. 20 versus Texas in Lubbock.
Roberson Steps It Up, Turns in Career-High Performance
Sophomore Ashlee Roberson stepped it up against Texas State and turned in a career-high performance with personal bests of 22 points and 12 rebounds. It was her second double-double of the season.
Outrebounding Opponents
For the 22nd time this season, the Lady Raiders outrebounded their opponent as they collected three more rebounds than Texas State in the second round of the WNIT. Tech is 15-7 when winning the battle on the boards.
Career Highs for Seals and Moore in Big 12 Championship
Junior Dominic Seals swatted a career-high four blocks against Texas in the first round of the Big 12 Championship. Her previous high was three blocks four times this season. Junior Maria Moore collected a career-high five steals against the Horns, breaking her previous high of four, which she had against Oral Roberts in December.
Twenty-third Double Digit Game
For the 23rd time this season, junior Dominic Seals scored in double figures as she chipped in 15 points against Texas in the Big 12 Championship.
Murphree Ties Career-High Threes
Sophomore Jordan Murphree hit three three-pointers against the Longhorns during the first round of the Big 12 Championship, which tied her career high. Murphree also had three threes against Oklahoma State on Feb. 14 in Lubbock.
Murphree Increases Scoring Average
Sophomore Jordan Murphree has scored in double digits in nine of the last 12 games. In the last 12 games, she has averaged 11.4 points, an increase of 4.1 points per game compared to the previous 12 contests.
Walker Sinks Career-High Threes
Junior Keisha Walker came off the bench at Texas to hit a career-high three three-pointers en route to scoring a team-high 14 points.
Seals Gets Double Digits Again
Junior Dominic Seals picked up her 22nd double-digit scoring game at Texas as she finished with 12 points. She also added six rebounds, two blocks, an assist and a steal.
Big Boards for Tiny
Junior Tiny Henderson collected seven rebounds at Texas, which tied her career high. It was the second time this season and the third time in her career to grab seven boards.
What Can Brown Do for You?
Sophomore Maddy Brown came off the bench at Oklahoma State and scored a season-high 16 points as she hit a season-high four three-pointers. She also had a season-high four rebounds and tied her season high of one block.
Murphree Has Fourth-Straight Double Digit Game
Sophomore Jordan Murphree had 12 points at Oklahoma State to mark her fourth-straight game of double-figure scoring.
Eighteen Points Ties Murphree's Season High
Sophomore Jordan Murphree scored a team-high 18 points against Oklahoma, which tied her season-high. She also had 18 points at UNLV back in November. Murphree scored her career high of 19 at Texas A&M last year.
Five Straight for Seals
Junior Dominic Seals finished with 10 points against the Sooners, marking her fifth-straight game of double-digit scoring and her 21st game of the season.
Seals Collects Career-High Steals
Junior Dominic Seals collected a career-high three steals against Oklahoma. Her previous career high was two on five occasions this season.
Third Big 12 Rookie of the Week Honor for Seals
Junior Dominic Seals averaged 18.5 points and seven rebounds while shooting 68.2 percent from the field and 77.8 percent from the charity stripe in Texas Tech's wins against Kansas and Nebraska during the week of Feb. 18-24, to be named the Phillips 66 Big 12 Women's Basketball Rookie of the Week. It was the third time for Seals to receive the honor this season.
Seals Gets 20th Double-Figure Scoring Game
Junior Dominic Seals got her 20th double-figure scoring game as she had a game-high 21 points, 19 in the second half, against Nebraska.
Henderson Grabs Rebounds, Collects Assists Versus Huskers
Junior Tiny Henderson tied her career-high seven rebounds against Nebraska. It marked the third time in her career to record seven boards. She also dished out seven assists against the Huskers, just one assist shy of her career high which she had earlier this year against Colorado. She also had four steals, one shy of her career high in that category as well.
Roberson Ties Career-High Blocks
For the third time this season, sophomore Ashlee Roberson tied her career-high three blocks in the win against the Huskers. She has recorded 21 blocks this season, seven in the last three games. Her 21 blocks rank third on the team behind junior Dominic Seals' 36 and senior Erin Myrick's 23.
Strong Second Half for Murphree
Junior Jordan Murphree scored 17 points, all in the second half, to lead Texas Tech to victory over Kansas. The Brock, Texas, native was 6-of-11 from the field, including 2-of-5 from three-point range and 3-of-3 from the free throw line.
Nineteenth Double-Digit Game
Junior Dominic Seals continues to dominate in the paint. Seals scored 16 points against the Jayhawks for her 19th double-digit scoring game of the season.
Overcoming Deficit
For the first time since the 1998-99 season, the Lady Raiders overcame a 10-plus point halftime deficit to win. Tech trailed Kansas, 33-21, at the half before rallying back for a five-point win. The last time that occurred was when Tech trailed at Oklahoma, 39-27, and then won in overtime, 89-87, on Jan. 27, 1999. The win over Kansas, 65-51, snapped a five-game losing streak for the Lady Raiders. It also gave Tech a nine-game winning streak against KU.
Walker Steps Up
Junior Keisha Walker returned to the starting lineup after a seven-game absence from the starting five. Walker made her presence known as she scored 11 points in a season-high 33 minutes of play. It was the first time she had scored in double figures since she had a career-high 18 points versus Sam Houston State Nov. 27.
Fifty Percent From the Field
Texas Tech shot 51.3 percent from the field, hitting 20-of-39 shot attempts at Texas A&M. It marked the fourth time this season that the Lady Raiders have shot over 50 percent in a game and their first time in Big 12 play. Tech is 3-1 on the season when shooting 50 percent or better from the field.
More Scoring for Seals
Junior Dominic Seals had her 17th and 18th double-figure scoring games of the season last week. Seals scored 12 against Oklahoma State, while pouring in 18 at Texas A&M.
Double-Figure Scoring Games
Junior Stanecia Graham scored a team-high 14 points against Oklahoma State, marking the first time since Dec. 18 that she had scored double figures in back-to-back games. She had 11 the previous game at Baylor. Back in December, she scored 14 against Arizona State and then 13 versus Oral Roberts. Sophomore Jordan Murphree scored 11 points to give her back-to-back games of 10 or more points. Murphree had 10 at Baylor. It was also her first time for consecutive double-figure scoring games since December when she had 12 against Oral Roberts and 16 against SMU.
Murphree Blocks High and Knocks Down Career-High 3s
Sophomore Jordan Murphree knocked down a career-high three three-pointers versus the Cowgirls, breaking her old mark of the two. She also swatted two shots, which tied her career high. She has had two blocks five times in her career, including one other time this season at UCF opener.
Graham Ties Career-High Steals
Junior Stanecia Graham snatched three steals versus Oklahoma State, tying her career high. She also had three steals at Arkansas in January.
Seals' 17th Double-Digit Scoring Effort
Junior Dominic Seals chipped in 12 points against the Cowgirls for the 17th time to score in double digits this season.
Graham Pulls Down Career High
Junior Stanecia Graham pulled down a career-high 14 rebounds at Baylor last week. Graham's previous career high was 10 against Sam Houston State back in November. She also added 11 points for her second double-double.
Season Low Field Goal Percentage
The Lady Raiders shot just 24.6 percent from the field against the Lady Bears. Tech hit just 16-of-65 shot attempts.
Henderson Scores Season High at Iowa State
Junior Tiny Henderson poured in a season-high 17 points at Iowa State, just two points shy of tying her career-high of 19. She also collected five assists and season highs of six rebounds and four steals.
Season Low Turnovers
Texas Tech committed just 10 turnovers in its loss at Iowa State, marking a season low for the Lady Raiders. Their previous season low was 11 against Arizona State.
Career-High Assists for Tiny
Junior Tiny Henderson dished out a career-high eight assists against the Buffaloes, surpassing her old career high of five which she had two times in her career.
Tough Big 12 Start
Texas Tech started 0-3 in Big 12 play, before getting its first league win against then No. 24/23 Texas, 70-58, in Lubbock on Jan. 20. The 0-3 start marked the first time the Lady Raiders had started off the Big 12 season with three losses. Tech started off 0-2 in 2000 and went on to share the Big 12 title with Iowa State and Oklahoma.
Tech Suffers Worst Loss of Season
Texas Tech suffered its worst loss of the season with a 39-point loss, 78-39, at then No. 11/11 Oklahoma on Jan. 23. It was the Lady Raiders' worst loss since losing at Louisiana Tech, 95-54, on Jan. 11, 1990.
Seals Leads Tech to First Big 12 Win
Junior Dominic Seals poured in a career-high 27 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to lead Texas Tech to its first Big 12 win of the season in its victory over Texas Jan. 20. It was her eighth double-double of the season. She also tied her career highs of three blocks and three assists.
Largest Margin Victory
Texas Tech won at Washington State, 89-45, marking its largest margin of victory this season. It was also the Lady Raiders' biggest win on the road since beating Colorado, 87-41, in Boulder on Jan. 15, 2005.
Longest Double-Figure Win Streak Since 1994-95
Texas Tech won its first nine games this season by double figures, which was the longest double-figure winning streak since winning 17-straight games by 10 or more points during the 1994-95 season.
Scoring Points
Texas Tech has scored at least 70 points in 13 of its 16 wins this year, already surpassing last year's total (seven times) of 70 or more points in a game. Last season, the Lady Raiders scored 70-plus points just seven times with a record of 6-1 in those games. The one loss was the only game Tech scored 80-plus points, which was an overtime loss at Oklahoma (86-81). So far this year, Tech has scored 80 or more points six times, including 90 points against Alcorn State and a season-high 91 points versus Oral Roberts.
Basketball Travelers Classic Honors
Senior Erin Myrick was named MVP of the Basketball Travelers Classic as she averaged 16.7 points and six rebounds, while shooting 80 percent from the field in Tech's three wins. She also tallied seven blocks. Junior Dominic Seals was named to the all-tournament team after she averaged 14 points and 7.7 rebounds, and shot 57.7 percent from the field.
Across the Nation
The 13 Lady Raiders hail from five states across the country with eight coming from the state of Texas. Sophomore Maddy Brown is from the furthest east, hailing from Honeoye Falls, N.Y., while senior Erin Myrick is from the furthest west coming from Duarte, Calif. Junior Stanecia Graham is from Aurora, Ill., and junior Keisha Walker calls Kansas City, Mo., home. Junior Maria Moore's hometown is Sparks, Nev.
South Plains Connection
Three current Lady Raiders were teammates at South Plains College before arriving at Texas Tech. Juniors Dominic Seals and Alana Rumph played two years for the Lady Texans, while sophomore Ashlee Roberson was there for one season. South Plains College has been a pipeline for the Lady Raiders over the years as several standouts have played at SPC prior to being a Lady Raider, including Sheryl Swoopes, Angie Braziel and Aleah Johnson, just to name a few.
Degree in Hand
Senior Erin Myrick graduated cum laude in May 2007 with a degree in broadcast journalism with minors in English and Spanish. Myrick is currently working on a second degree in public relations with a minor in general business.
On the Tube
Texas Tech had 14 regular-season games and one game of the Big 12 Championship televised this season. The Lady Raiders played on ESPN2 once, FSN three times, FSNSW once, FSNMW once and the Texas Tech Television Network eight times. Tech played at Kansas State (L, 45-71) on FSNMW. On FSN, Tech played Texas (W, 70-58), Colorado (Jan. 26) and at Baylor (L, 45-68). The Lady Raiders played on FSNSW at Texas (L, 55-70). Tech's ESPN2 game is at Texas A&M (Feb. 17). The Lady Raiders had games against IPFW (W, 72-51), Alcorn State (W, 90-55), Sam Houston State (W, 84-51), Houston (L, 63-66), Oral Roberts (W, 91-61) at Oklahoma (L, 39-78), Kansas (W, 65-61) and Oklahoma (L, 55-65) on the Texas Tech Television Network. Tech played Texas (L, 63-75) on Metro Sports in the first round of the Big 12 Championship.
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)
