Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
Arkansas
Lady Raiders Dominate in Win Over Arkansas
January 03, 2009 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 3, 2009
LUBBOCK, Texas - Jordan Murphree scored a career-high 22 points to lead Texas Tech to a 75-60 victory over Arkansas today at the United Spirit Arena.
The match-up that saw two former Southwest Conference foes battle it out began with the Lady Raiders (9-4) scoring the first six points to open the game. Tech got up by as many as 10 points in the first half with the first coming at 21-11 on a jumper and free throw by Maria Moore at the 7:41 mark. Arkansas (11-4) cut the lead to one with just over a minute to go, and again with 22 seconds left in the first period. Murphree sank a jumper at the buzzer to give Tech a three-point advantage at the half, 31-28.
The two teams continued to fight it out in the second half with two lead changes. The Lady Raiders led the way until Arkansas' Shanita Arnold hit a jumper to tie the game at 44-44 with just under 13 minutes to play. The Razorbacks took their first lead of the contest on a three-pointer by Brittney Richardson with 12:04 to go. At 8:47, Murphree hit two free throws to give the Lady Raiders a lead they would never relinquish. Tech's largest lead of 17 points came with just 12 seconds to go on a three-pointer by Tilmila Martin. The Lady Raiders outscored Arkansas 27-12 in the final nine minutes of the game to secure the win.
Along with Murphree, Tech had two others score in double figures as Kierra Mallard had a career-high 18 points and Dominic Seals finished with 16. Mallard had her first career double-double as she collected a career-high 16 rebounds. She also had a career-high four blocks. Ashlee Roberson grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds as well.
Richardson led Arkansas with 18 points.
Tech shot 48.1 percent from the field, connecting on 25-of-52 shot attempts, while the Razorbacks were 31.4 percent from field (22-70). The Lady Raiders outrebounded Arkansas 46-35.
The Lady Raiders open Big 12 Conference play on Sat., Jan. 10, by hosting Texas at 2 p.m.
