Texas Tech University Athletics
Lady Raiders Host No. 5/4 Baylor on Saturday
January 22, 2009 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 22, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format 
Game 18 vs. #5/4 Baylor • January 24, 2009
United Spirit Arena (15,050) • Lubbock, Texas • 1 p.m. • FSN
The Game
Texas Tech (11-6/2-2) plays its second-straight top 25 team and its fourth in five games as it hosts No. 5/4 Baylor (16-1/4-0) on Sat., Jan. 24, at 1 p.m. It is the 67th scheduled meeting between the two schools.
On the Air
The game is being televised on FSN as Kevin Eschenfelder (play-by-play) and Debbie Antonelli (color commentary) call the 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. Live stats are available through gametracker at www.texastech.com.
The Lady Raiders
Texas Tech is 11-6 on the year and 2-2 in the Big 12 after losing to No. 18/15 Kansas State, 60-48, on Wednesday in Lubbock. On the year, senior Dominic Seals is averaging 13.8 points per game followed by junior Jordan Murphree at 10.9. Seals is the top rebounder, grabbing 8.0 boards per outing and freshman Kierra Mallard is averaging 7.5 rebounds. Mallard is shooting 45.8 percent from the field and junior Maddy Brown has a team-high 36 percent from the three-point line. Junior Tilmila Martin is shooting a Big 12- best 91.5 percent from the free throw line. Senior Maria Moore has a team-high 64 assists, while Seals is the top shot blocker with 25 blocks. Moore and Murphree lead the team in steals with 24 apiece. The Lady Raiders are shooting 40.5 percent from the field, 31.6 percent from three-point range and 69 percent from the charity stripe.
Scouting the Opponent
No. 5/4 Baylor enters the game with a 16-1 overall record and 4-0 in the Big 12 after winning at No. 9/7 Texas A&M, 64-61, on Wednesday. In that game, junior Morghan Medlock scored a team-high 17 points, while senior Jessica Morrow had 15. Senior Jhasmin Player and junior Danielle Wilson added 12 and 11 points, respectively. Wilson collected 10 rebounds and sophomore Kelli Griffin had six assists. Morrow tallied two blocks. On the year, Wilson leads the Lady Bears in scoring with a 15.0 average followed by senior Rachel Allison at 12.2 and Morrow at 10.6. Wilson is the top rebounder, averaging 8.5 rebounds per contest. Griffin has a team-high 63 assists and Player leads the team in steals with 31. Wilson is the top shot blocker with 53 blocks. Baylor is shooting 44.5 percent from the field, 32 percent from the three-point arc and 67.2 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 43-38 at Tech and a career record of 222-89 in her 10th year. Kim Mulkey is in her ninth year as head coach at Baylor with a career record of 224-61.
Series Record
Texas Tech is 46-20 against Baylor (including a forfeit by Baylor in 1989). The Lady Bears were victorious both times last season, 72-67, in Lubbock Jan. 9, and 68-45, in Waco Feb. 9. Tech's last win came during the 2006 Big 12 season when the Lady Raiders upset then No. 5 Baylor, 64-62, in Lubbock Jan. 15. The Lady Raiders are 25-5 against Baylor in Lubbock, which includes the forfeit by Baylor in 1989.
Last Time Out
Maria Moore and Kierra Mallard scored 13 points each for Texas Tech but it wasn't enough to hold off No. 18 Kansas State as the Wildcats defeated the Lady Raiders 60-48 tonight at the United Spirit Arena.
Kansas State jumped out to a 5-0 lead before the Lady Raiders scored their first bucket at 16:56 on a jumper by Mallard. Tech knotted it up at 8-8 at the 13:52 mark and neither team scored for the next two minutes until Shalee Lehning hit a jumper for the Wildcats to take a lead they would never relinquish.
K-State got up by as many as eight points in the first half before Tech cut it to two points on a pair of free throws by Dominic Seals with 24 seconds to go in the half, as the Wildcats led 22-20 at the break.
The second half saw Kansas State go on a 16-2 run from 16:17 to 7:12, in which the only points for the Lady Raiders were two free throws by Tilmila Martin as the Wildcats led 47-31. The 16-point advantage was K-State's biggest lead of the night, which occurred again at 49-33 with just under seven minutes remaining in the game.
Mallard added eight rebounds to go with her 13 points.
Tech only shot 32.2 percent from the field (19-59), while K-State hit 44.9 percent of its shots (22-49). The Wildcats outrebounded the Lady Raiders 40-32.
A Look Ahead
Texas Tech hosts 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. The Lady Raiders then hit the road for two-straight games at Oklahoma State on Sat., Feb. 21, at 6 p.m., and at Baylor on Wed., Feb. 25, at 7 p.m.
NCAA Stats
As of games through Jan. 18, junior Tilmila Martin ranks seventh in free throw percentage at 91.1 percent, among all NCAA Division I players.
Change in Lineup
Head coach Kristy Curry has used 10 different lineups in 17 games this season. One lineup has been used in six games - Ashlee Roberson (F), Dominic Seals (F) Kierra Mallard (C), Maria Moore (G) and Jordan Murphree (G). Tech is 4-2 with this lineup.
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 1-3 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. The Lady Raiders then lost at home to then No. 18/15 Kansas State, 60-48, on Jan. 21.
T-Martin Tops in Big 12
Junior Tilmila Martin is shooting a Big 12-best 91.5 percent from the free throw line. Martin is 43-of-47 in 17 games this season.
Mallard and Moore Top Scorers Against Wildcats
Freshman Kierra Mallard and senior Maria Moore both scored a team-high 13 points in Tech's loss to No. 18/15 Kansas State on Wednesday. It was the eighth time this season for each of them to score in double figures. Mallard also grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.
Roberson Ties Career-High Assists
For the second-straight game, junior Ashlee Roberson tied her career-high three assists. The forward dished out three assists against both Kansas and Kansas State.
Seventh Double-Double for Seals
Senior Dominic Seals got her seventh double-double of the season and the 16th of her career with 18 points and 10 rebounds at Kansas. Tech is 6-1 when Seals has a double-double. She has scored in double figures in 15 of 17 games this year.
More Rebounds for Moore
Senior Maria Moore tied her career-high six rebounds at Kansas. It was the fourth time this season and the sixth of her career to grab six boards. She also added 11 points in the win.
Mallard Collecting Rebounds
For the first time this season, freshman Kierra Mallard had back-to-back games of 10 or more rebounds. Mallard collected 10 at Texas A&M and then had 12 at Kansas. She has had 10 or more rebounds three times this year, all coming in three of the last four games.
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.
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.
Season Highs for Walker
Senior Keisha Walker grabbed a season-high five rebounds at UNM, while dishing out a season-high three assists.
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 (W, 72-62), Kansas State (L, 48-60), 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.
