Texas Tech University Athletics
Lady Raiders Travel to Kansas
January 15, 2009 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 15, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format 
Game 16 vs. Kansas • January 17, 2009
Allen Fieldhouse (16,300) • Lawrence, Kan. • 7 p.m.
The Game
Texas Tech (10-5/1-1) travels to Lawrence, Kan., for its second-straight conference road game as it takes on Kansas (12-3/1-1) on Sat., Jan. 17, at 7 p.m., at Allen Fieldhouse. It is the 15th meeting between the two schools.
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 calls the game. The game can also be heard on the internet at www.texastech.com through RaiderVision All-Access. Live stats are available through gametracker at www.texastech.com.
The Lady Raiders
Texas Tech is 10-5 on the year and 1-1 in the Big 12 after losing at No. 8/6 Texas A&M, 67-56, on Tuesday night. The loss snapped a five-game winning streak for the Lady Raiders. On the year, senior Dominic Seals is averaging 14 points per game followed by junior Jordan Murphree at 11.8. Seals is the top rebounder, grabbing 8.1 boards per outing and freshman Kierra Mallard is averaging 7.1 rebounds. Freshman Jordan Barncastle is shooting a team-high 48.1 percent from the field and junior Maddy Brown has a team-best 36 percent from the three-point line. Junior Tilmila Martin is shooting 89.7 percent from the free throw line. Senior Maria Moore has a team-high 60 assists, while Seals is the top shot blocker with 23 blocks. Moore leads the team in steals with 21. The Lady Raiders are shooting 41 percent from the field, 32.3 percent from three-point range and 68.7 percent from the charity stripe.
Scouting the Opponent
Kansas owns a 12-3 overall record and is 1-1 in the Big 12 after defeating Missouri, 75-58, on Wednesday night in Lawrence. In that game, junior Sade Morris scored a game-high 20 points, while sophomore Nicollette Smith added 16 and junior Danielle McCray finished with 12. Sophomore Krysten Boogaard had 11 rebounds and three blocks and senior Ivana Catic dished out six assists. On the year, McCray leads the Jayhawks in scoring with a 17.7 average followed by Morris at 12.8 and Boogaard at 10.8. McCray is the top rebounder, averaging 8.3 rebounds per contest. Junior LaChelda Jacobs had a team-high 65 assists and McCray leads the team in steals with 26. Boogaard and junior Porscha Weddington are the top shot blockers with 11 blocks apiece. Kansas is shooting 47.1 percent from the field, 42 percent from the three-point arc and 68.4 percent from the free throw line.
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 42-37 at Tech and a career record of 221-88 in her 10th year. Bonnie Henrickson is in her fifth year as head coach of the Jayhawks establishing a record of 69-68. She is also in her 12th year as a head coach with a career record of 227-130.
Series Record
Texas Tech and Kansas are meeting for the 15th time in the series with the Lady Raiders holding an 11-3 advantage over the Jayhawks. Tech has won the last nine games, including last year's, 65-61, victory in Lubbock on Feb. 20. KU's last win was a 55-45 triumph in Lawrence on Jan. 23, 1999. The Lady Raiders are 4-2 against the Jayhawks in Lawrence.
Last Time Out
(AP) - Takia Starks had 21 points and Gant scored 12 of her 18 in the last five minutes to lead No. 8 Texas A&M to a 67-56 win over Texas Tech Tuesday night.
It was Gant's second-straight big fourth quarter after she had the key basket late in A&M's win over Missouri on Saturday.
The win is A&M's sixth straight over the Lady Raiders and is the Aggies' 13th consecutive home win.
The Aggies led 53-51 before Gant scored eight straight points to secure the win. Gant made two quick baskets before hitting eight free throws down the stretch to put the game out of reach.
Gant also led the Aggies with 10 rebounds and had five steals. Sydney Colson added 11 points and Adaora Elonu had 10.
Gant, who was 1-of-6 in the first half, said her early struggles were because she was rushing her shots.
Blair thought it was more likely the defense of the 6-foot-2 Dominic Seals.
The loss breaks a five-game winning streak for the Lady Raiders who were coming off a 65-62 weekend upset of then-No. 8 Texas.
Texas Tech was led by Seals who had 18 points. Kierra Mallard added 11 points and 10 rebounds and Maria Moore scored 11 points.
Both teams shot poorly for large chunks of the second half, with neither team scoring for a more than four minute stretch at one point.
A jumper by Seals got Texas Tech within 47-46 with about 11 minutes left. The Lady Raiders held the Aggies without a basket and had opportunity after opportunity to take the lead after that, but missed four layups in the next four minutes to remain down by 1.
Starks and Elonu added two free throws each and a jumper by Gant helped A&M outscored Tech 6-2 after that to take a five-point lead with about five minutes left.
Seals outscored the Aggies 6-2 in the opening minutes of the second half to get Texas Tech within 3. Tilmila Martin's 3-pointer tied it before she gave the Lady Raiders a 39-37 lead on fast break seconds later.
The Aggies responded with six straight points to regain the lead, 43-39.
Seals left the game in tears with about 6 1/2 minutes left, but returned about three minutes later after her left ankle was re-taped.
Texas A&M is hoping these two wins will help as the team prepares for a tough pair of games starting with No. 3 Oklahoma in Norman on Saturday followed by fifth-ranked Baylor at home Jan. 21.
A Look Ahead
Texas Tech returns home to host Kansas State on Wed., Jan. 21, at 7 p.m., on the Texas Tech Television Network and Baylor on Sat., Jan. 24, at 1 p.m., on FSN. The Lady Raiders play at Colorado on Wed., Jan. 28, at 8 p.m. CST on FSNRM. Tech faces Oklahoma State on Sat., Jan. 31, at 1 p.m., before taking a break from conference play to host Savannah State on Mon., Feb. 2, at 7 p.m. Big 12 play resumes on Sun., Feb. 8, at Texas at 2 p.m. and then at home on Wed., Feb. 11, against Texas A&M at 7 p.m. The Lady Raiders face Nebraska on Sat., Feb. 14, at 12 p.m., in Lincoln on FSN. Tech's Pink Zone game will be on Tues., Feb. 17, against Oklahoma in Lubbock at 7 p.m. on the Texas Tech Television Network.
NCAA Stats
As of games through Jan. 11, Tilmila Martin ranks seventh in free throw percentage at 89.7, among all NCAA Division I players. Texas Tech ranks 36th in turnovers per game at 15.6 and 47th in assist/turnover ratio at 0.91, among all NCAA Division I teams.
Change in Lineup
Head coach Kristy Curry has used 10 different lineups in 15 games this season. One lineup has been used in four games - Ashlee Roberson (F), Dominic Seals (F) Kierra Mallard (C), Maria Moore (G) and Jordan Murphree (G).
First Top 10 Win in Curry Era
Texas Tech got its first win over at top 10 team in the Kristy Curry era as the Lady Raiders upset then No. 8/12 Texas, 65-62, in its Big 12 opener. It was the first time Tech had beaten a top 10 since beating No. 5 Baylor, 64-62, on Feb. 15, 2006, in Lubbock.
Tech vs. the Top 25
Texas Tech is 1-2 against teams ranked in the top 25. The Lady Raiders suffered their first loss to a ranked opponent as they fell to then No. 3/3 California, 68-54, on Nov. 28, in St. Thomas. Tech got its first top 25 win of the season on Jan. 10, with a 65-62 triumph over Texas in Lubbock before losing at then No. 8/6 Texas A&M, 67-56, on Jan. 13.
Mallard Picks Up Second Double-Double
Freshman Kierra Mallard picked up her second career double-double, and her second in three games, as she had 11 points and 10 rebounds in the loss at Texas A&M.
Block Buster III
Senior Dominic Seals tied her career high of four blocks at Texas A&M. It was the third time this season and the fourth of her career to collect four blocks.
Dominic `Seals the Deal'
Senior Dominic Seals hit a jumper with 7.4 seconds remaining in the game to give Texas Tech the win over No. 8/12 Texas. Seals had her sixth double-double of the season with 16 points and 10 rebounds. It was the 15th double-double of her career. Tech is 5-1 when Seals has a double-double. She has scored in double figures in 14 of 15 games this season.
Mallard Named Big 12 Freshman of the Week
Freshman Kierra Mallard was named the Phillips 66 Big 12 Freshman of the Week after she averaged a double-double with 14.5 points and 12 rebounds in Texas Tech's wins over UCLA and Arkansas the week of Dec. 29-Jan.4. The Dallas, Texas, native had 11 points, eight rebounds, two steals and an assist against UCLA while shooting 55.6 percent (5-of-9) from the field. Mallard then recorded her first career double-double as she had career highs of 18 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks in the victory over Arkansas. She shot 60 percent (6-of-10) from the field and 85.7 percent (6-of-7) from the free throw line.
Career High for Murphree
Junior Jordan Murphree poured in a career-high 22 points against Arkansas breaking her previous career-high of 19, which she had at Texas A&M on Feb. 21, 2007.
Mallard Has Career Day
Freshman Kierra Mallard had a career day against Arkansas. The freshman center recorded her first career double-double as she posted career highs of 18 points and 16 rebounds. She also collected a career-high four blocks. Mallard has now scored in double figures in six games this season.
Career-High Boards for Roberson
Junior Ashlee Roberson grabbed 13 rebounds versus the Razorbacks, marking a new career high for her. Her previous career-high rebounds was 12 against Texas State on March 22, 2008.
Moore Ties Career Highs
Senior Maria Moore led Texas Tech to a victory over UCLA as she tied her career highs of 18 points, nine assists, six rebounds and two three-pointers in 33 minutes.
All Starters Score Double Figures
For the first time this season and the first time since Feb. 1, 2006, (Texas), the Lady Raiders had all five starters score in double figures. Senior Maria Moore led the way with 18 points, while senior Dominic Seals and junior Jordan Murphree both finished with 14. Freshman Kierra Mallard and junior Ashlee Roberson chipped in 11 and 10 points, respectively. It was the third time this season Texas Tech had five players score in double digits (Idaho, Prairie View A&M).
Season High From the Field
Texas Tech shot a season-high 57.9 percent from the field against Sac State. It was the best shooting performance for the Lady Raiders since they shot 58.5 percent versus Northeastern on Nov. 11, 2007.
A Team Effort
In the win over Sac State, all 11 players scored in the game. Senior Dominic Seals and freshman Jordan Barncastle led the way with 12 points apiece and freshman Kierra Mallard added 10. Junior Tilmila Martin chipped in nine, while juniors Maddy Brown and Jordan Murphree had eight points each. Senior Keisha Walker had seven and both senior Maria Moore and junior Ashlee Roberson had six points. Seniors Alana Rumph and Tiny Henderson had three and two points, respectively.
Forcing Turnovers
In the home games against UNLV, Prairie View A&M and UCLA, Tech forced a combined 77 turnovers. UNLV committed 27 turnovers and both Prairie View and UCLA had 25. All three are opponent highs for the year.
Keeping Control
Texas Tech committed just nine turnovers at New Mexico, tying its season low. Tech also had nine turnovers against Idaho in the season opener.
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 has 12 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 played at New Mexico (L, 54-63) 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 (W, 75-63), UCLA (Dec. 29), Kansas State (Jan. 21), Oklahoma (Feb. 17), Iowa State (Feb. 28) at Oklahoma (Mar. 4) and Missouri (Mar. 7). The game on Jan. 3, against Arkansas will be televised by Arkansas on the Cox Sports Television.
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)
Inside Lady Raider Basketball with Kristy Curry
Kristy Curry's weekly television show, Inside Lady Raider Basketball with Kristy Curry, is televised every Sunday at 10 p.m. on FOX34 at 10 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.on My Lubbock TV.
The Kristy Curry Radio Show
The Kristy Curry Radio Show is held each Monday from 6-7 p.m, at Dion's located at 2721 82nd Street. The show airs on KFYO-AM 790 locally. There will not be a radio show on Mon., Feb. 2, but rather on Tues., Feb. 3, as the Lady Raiders have a home game on Feb. 2, with Savannah State.
