Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Opens Big 12 Play with Texas
January 06, 2009 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 6, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format 
Game 14 vs. Texas • January 10, 2009
United Spirit Arena (15,050) • Lubbock, Texas • 2 p.m.
The Game
Texas Tech (9-4) opens Big 12 Conference play by hosting No. 8/12 Texas (12-2) on Sat., Jan. 10, at 2 p.m. at the United Spirit Arena. It is the 80th 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 and Crystal Boles call 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
Texas Tech is 9-4 on the year after defeating Arkansas, 75-60, last Saturday in Lubbock. On the year, senior Dominic Seals is averaging 13.5 points per game followed by junior Jordan Murphree at 12.1. Seals is the top rebounder, grabbing 7.8 boards per outing and freshman Kierra Mallard is averaging 6.9 rebounds. Freshman Jordan Barncastle is shooting a team-high 49.1 percent from the field and senior Maria Moore has a team-best 37 percent from the three-point line. Junior Tilmila Martin is shooting 88.2 percent from the free throw line. Moore has a team-high 53 assists, while Seals is the top shot blocker with 19 blocks. Murphree and Moore lead the team in steals with 16 apiece. The Lady Raiders are shooting 41.5 percent from the field, 31.9 percent from three-point range and 68.5 percent from the charity stripe.
Scouting the Opponent
No. 8/12 Texas owns a 12-2 record on the year after losing at Purdue, 66-55, on Monday night. In that game, junior Erika Arriaran scored 14 points and junior Brittainey Raven added 13 points. Sophomore Kathleen Nash finished with nine rebounds and Raven and senior Earnesia Williams both collected four assists. Senior Ashley Lindsey had two blocks. On the year, Raven leads the Longhorns in scoring with a 14.9 average followed by Nash at 13.4. Nash is the top rebounder, averaging 6.2 rebounds per contest. Senior Carla Cortijo leads the team in assists with 77, while Lindsey, Williams and freshman Yvonne Anderson all have a team-high 20 steals. Lindsey is the top shot blocker with 36 blocks. Texas is shooting 47.1 percent from the field, 39.8 percent from the three-point arc and 76.5 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 41-36 at Tech and a career record of 220-87 in her 10th year. Gail Goestenkors is in her second year at Texas with a record of 34-15. She is also in her 17th year as a head coach with a career record of 430-114.
Series Record
Texas Tech and Texas are meeting for the 80th time in the series, with the Longhorns holding a 55-24 advantage over the Lady Raiders. Both teams were victorious on their home courts last year with Tech winning the first meeting, 70-58, on Jan. 20, in Lubbock, and the Longhorns winning, 70-55, on March 5, in Austin. Texas then beat Tech, 75-63, in the first round of the Big 12 Championship in Kansas City, Mo., on March 11. Tech is 14-17 against Texas in Lubbock.
Last Time Out
Jordan Murphree scored a career-high 22 points to lead Texas Tech to a 75-60 victory over Arkansas.
The match-up that saw two former Southwest Conference foes battle it out began with the Lady Raiders 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 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.
A Look Ahead
The Lady Raiders hit the road for two league games at Texas A&M on Tues., Jan. 13, at 7 p.m., and at Kansas on Sat., Jan. 17, at 7 p.m. Tech hosts 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.
NCAA Stats
As of games through Jan. 4, Texas Tech ranks 39th in turnovers per game at 15.7 and 46th in assist/turnover ratio at 0.92, among all NCAA Division I teams.
Change in Lineup
Head coach Kristy Curry has used 10 different lineups in the 13 games this season. Three games this season have seen the same starting five Jordan Barncastle (F), Ashlee Roberson (F), Dominic Seals (F), Maria Moore (G) and Tiny Henderson (G).
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 last week. 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 the last four games and a total of six 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).
Made of Steals
Junior Jordan Murphree collected five steals against UCLA, tying her career high. Murphree also had five steals last year versus Kennesaw State on Nov. 23, 2007.
Block Buster II
Against the Bruins, senior Dominic Seals blocked four shots for the second time this season, which tied her career high. Seals has now had four blocks on three occasions in her career.
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.
Seals Gets Fifth Double-Double
Senior Dominic Seals had 12 points and 10 rebounds against Sac State for her fifth double-double of the year and the 14th of her career. She has scored in double figures in 11 of 12 games this season. Tech is 4-1 when Seals records a double-double.
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.
Seals Propels Tech Over Prairie View A&M
Senior Dominic Seals had season highs of 22 points and 14 rebounds to lead Texas Tech to a 72-44 victory over Prairie View A&M. It was her fourth double-double of the season and the 13th of her career. Of her 22 points, 10 of them came from the free throw line which was the first time a player had made 10 free throws in a game since Erin Grant hit 14 at Penn State in double overtime on Dec. 4, 2005.
Another Double-Digit Scoring Effort for Moore
Senior Maria Moore scored 11 points against Prairie View A&M, marking three-straight games of double-figure scoring for the point guard. It was her four time this year to score in double digits. Moore also tied her season-high seven assists.
Murphree Ties Career-High Blocks
Junior Jordan Murphree tied her career high of two blocks versus Prairie View A&M. The two blocks were her first blocks of the season.
Five in Double Figures
For the second time this season, the Lady Raiders had five players score in double figures as they defeated the Lady Panthers of Prairie View A&M. Senior Dominic Seals led the way with a game-high 22 points and seniors Maria Moore and Keisha Walker and junior Jordan Murphree all scored 11 points each. Freshman Kierra Mallard chipped in 10 points.
Martin Hot From Charity Stripe
Junior Tilmila Martin was perfect from the free throw line at UNM as she connected on all six free throw attempts against the Lobos. She also tied her career high of three assists in that game.
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.
Moore Pours in Career High
Senior Maria Moore poured in a career-high 18 points against UNLV. She was one of four Lady Raiders to score in double figures as senior Dominic Seals had 14 points and juniors Jordan Murphree and Ashlee Roberson both scored 12 points apiece.
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)
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. 11. 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 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., Jan. 12, as Tech plays at Texas A&M on Tues., Jan. 13, and 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, with Savannah State.
