Texas Tech University Athletics
Women's Basketball Plays Savannah State on Monday
February 01, 2009 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 1, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format 
Game 21 vs. Savannah State • February 2, 2009
United Spirit Arena (15,050) • Lubbock, Texas • 7 p.m.
The Game
Texas Tech (12-8/3-4) takes a break from Big 12 play as it hosts Savannah State (4-17) on Mon., Feb. 2, at 7 p.m. at the United Spirit Arena. It is the first 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 12-8 on the year and 3-4 in the Big 12 after being edged by Oklahoma State, 65-60, last Saturday in Lubbock. On the year, senior Dominic Seals is averaging 14.1 points per game followed by junior Jordan Murphree at 10.3. Seals is the top rebounder, grabbing 8.0 boards per outing and freshman Kierra Mallard is averaging 7.9 rebounds. Seals is shooting 44.5 percent from the field and junior Maddy Brown has a team-high 37 percent from the three-point line. Junior Tilmila Martin is shooting a team-best 91.8 percent from the free throw line. Senior Maria Moore has a team-high 73 assists, while Seals is the top shot blocker with 28 blocks. Moore leads the team in steals with 28. The Lady Raiders are shooting 40.3 percent from the field, 31.4 percent from three-point range and 68.9 percent from the charity stripe.
Scouting the Opponent
Savannah State owns a 4-17 record after winning at Talladega College, 62-59, last Saturday. In that game, freshman Raven Fields scored a team-high 16 points and senior LaShara Smith chipped in 12. Smith also collected seven rebounds and freshman Crissa Jackson tallied five steals. Jackson, Fields and sophomore Courtney Long all finished with three assists apiece. On the year, Smith paces the Lady Tigers in scoring with a 9.7 average followed by Fields at 7.3. Smith is the top rebounder, averaging 4.7 rebounds per contest. Jackson has team highs of 45 assists and 38 steals. Fields is the top shot blocker with 28 blocks. Savannah State is shooting 33.5 percent from the field, 19.6 percent from the three-point arc and 65.4 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 44-40 at Tech and a career record of 223-91 in her 10th year. Cedric Baker is in his sixth year as head coach at Savannah State with a record of 46-115. He is also in his 17th year as a head coach with a career record of 241-228.
Series Record
It is the first meeting between Texas Tech and Savannah State.
Last Time Out
Texas Tech had three players post a double-double but it was not enough to stop Oklahoma State as the Cowgirls defeated the Lady Raiders, 65-60, on Saturday at the United Spirit Arena.
The Lady Raiders got off to a rough start going missing their first eight shots in first two and half minutes of the game before Maria Moore hit a three-pointer at 17:26. The Cowgirls, who led the entire game, got up by as many as 12 points in the first half at 20-8 on a layup by Kristin Hernandez with 11:45 to go in the half. Tech cut the lead to four three times, the last coming at 31-27 on a pair of free throws by Dominic Seals with 2:55 remaining. OSU led 38-30 at the break.
In the second half, OSU was up by 11 points with just under eight minutes to play before the Lady Raiders went on 9-0 run to cut the lead to two at 60-58 with 4:46 to go in the contest. Andrea Riley hit a jumper with a little over four minutes to play to put the Cowgirls up 62-58. Tech's Kierra Mallard knocked down two free throws with 3:39 to go to get the Lady Raiders within two points again at 62-60. Riley responded hitting a jumper at 3:24 and then a free throw with 56 seconds left to secure the five-point win.
Ashlee Roberson's jumper with 5:19 left in the game was the last time Tech would score a field goal.
Seals, Mallard and Roberson all recorded double-doubles for Tech. Seals finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Mallard had 16 points and 14 boards, and Roberson added 12 points and a career-high 14 rebounds.
Riley led Oklahoma State with 33 points.
The Cowgirls outshot Tech from the field 43.9 percent (25-57) to 30.9 percent (21-68). The Lady Raiders outrebounded OSU 47-to-38 and committed just 10 turnovers.
A Look Ahead
Texas Tech resumes Big 12 play 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. Tech returns to the United Spirit Arena on Sat., Feb. 28, for an 8 p.m. game against Iowa State. The Lady Raiders play at Oklahoma on Wed., March 4, at 7 p.m., and then finish regular-season play at home on Sat., March 7, against Missouri at 2 p.m. The last three games will be on the Texas Tech Television Network. The Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship will be held March 12-15, at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City, Okla.
NCAA Stats
As of games through Jan. 29, Texas Tech ranks 37th in turnovers per game at 15.6, among all NCAA Division I teams.
Change in Lineup
Head coach Kristy Curry has used 11 different lineups in 20 games this season. One lineup has been used in eight games - Ashlee Roberson (F), Dominic Seals (F) Kierra Mallard (C), Maria Moore (G) and Jordan Murphree (G). Tech is 4-4 with this lineup.
First Top 10 Win in Curry Era
Texas Tech got its first win over a 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 1-4 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, and to then No. 5/4 Baylor, 76-64, on Jan. 24.
Three Post Double-Doubles
Texas Tech had three players post double-doubles in the loss to Oklahoma State. Senior Dominic Seals finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds, while freshman Kierra Mallard had 16 points and 14 rebounds, and junior Ashlee Roberson had 12 points and a career-high 14 rebounds. It marked Seals' eighth double-double of the season and 17th of her career, while it was the third of Mallard's career. Roberson picked up her first double-double of the season and third of her career.
Mallard Gets Another Double-Digit Game
Freshman Kierra Mallard had her 10th game of the year of double-figure scoring as she had 16 points against Oklahoma State. All but two of her double-digit outputs have come in the last 11 games. For the first 10 games of the season, Mallard was averaging 7.4 points, and in the last 10 contests she has upped that average to 11 points per game. She has also increased her rebound average as well, grabbing 5.7 boards in the first half of the season and now has averaged 10.1 rebounds in the last 10 games.
Another Road Win
Texas Tech picked up its second-straight road win with a 66-60 victory at Colorado on Jan. 28. The Lady Raiders won at Kansas on Jan. 17, to halt their road-game losing streak.
Seals Leads Tech
Senior Dominic Seals scored a team-high 18 points to lead Texas Tech at Colorado. Seals has scored in double figures in 18 of 20 games this year.
Career High for Moore
Senior Maria Moore scored a career-high 22 points against Baylor on Jan. 24. Moore has scored in double figures in four of the last six games and nine times this season.
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.
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 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.
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.
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. Against UCLA, 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.
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 hosted Baylor (L, 64-76) and play at Nebraska (Feb. 14) both on FSN. Tech was on FSNRM at Colorado (W, 66-60). Tech's seven games on the TTTN include UNLV (W, 75-63), UCLA (W, 72-62), Kansas State (L, 60-48), 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.
