Texas Tech University Athletics
Lady Raiders Host No. 2 Oklahoma on Tuesday
February 15, 2009 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 15, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format 
Game 25 vs. #2/2 Oklahoma • February 17, 2009
United Spirit Arena (15,050) • Lubbock, Texas • 7 p.m. • TTTN
The Game
Texas Tech (14-10/4-6) returns home to host No. 2/2 Oklahoma (22-2/10-0) on Tues., Feb. 17, at 7 p.m., at the United Spirit Arena. It is the 38th meeting between the two schools. It is also Tech's WBCA Pink ZoneTM game. The Pink Zone initiative is a global, unified effort for the WBCA's nation of coaches to assist in raising breast cancer awareness on the court, across campuses, in communities and beyond.
On the Air
The game is being televised on the Texas Tech Television Network, which airs locally in Lubbock on My Lubbock TV, and the Sooner Sports Network as Drew Dougherty (play-by-play) and Crystals Boles (color commentary) call the game. The game can be heard on the radio on the Texas Tech Sports Network as Ryan Hyatt and Stephanie Gerber 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 14-10 on the year and 4-6 in the Big 12 after losing at Nebraska, 62-56, last Saturday. On the year, senior Dominic Seals is averaging 13.3 points per game followed by junior Jordan Murphree at 10.4 and freshman Kierra Mallard at 10.0. Mallard is the top rebounder, grabbing 8.2 boards per outing and Seals is averaging 7.7 rebounds. Seals is shooting 44 percent from the field and junior Maddy Brown has a team-high 35.6 percent from the three-point line. Junior Tilmila Martin is shooting a team-best 87.5 percent from the free throw line. Senior Maria Moore has a team-high 80 assists, while Seals is the top shot blocker with 31 blocks. Murphree leads the team in steals with 36. The Lady Raiders are shooting 40 percent from the field, 30.7 percent from three-point range and 69.3 percent from the charity stripe.
Scouting the Opponent
No. 2/2 Oklahoma enters the game with a 22-2 overall record and is 10-0 in Big 12 play after winning at Kansas, 69-54, last Saturday. In that game, junior Amanda Thompson scored a team-high 16 points and Courtney Paris finished with nine points and 15 rebounds. Sophomore Danielle Robinson collected five assists and four steals. On the year, Courtney Paris paces the Sooners in scoring with a 15.6 average followed by senior Ashley Paris at 13.7 and Robinson at 12.7. Courtney Paris is the top rebounder, grabbing 13.6 boards per contest. Robinson has team highs of 147 assists and 54 steals, and Courtney Paris is the top shot blocker with 56 blocks. Oklahoma is shooting 49.7 percent from the field, 36.1 percent from the three-point line and 67.2 percent from the charity stripe.
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 46-42 at Tech and a career record of 225-93 in her 10th year. Sherri Coale is in her 13th year as head coach of the Sooners with a career record of 276-129.
Series Record
Texas Tech and Oklahoma are meeting for the 38th time in the series with the Lady Raiders holding a 21-16 advantage over the Sooners. OU has won the last six games, including both games last year - 78-39, in Norman on Jan. 23, and 65-55, in Lubbock on Feb. 27. Tech's last win came in Norman on Feb. 23, 2005, in an 83-70 triumph. The Lady Raiders were also victorious that same year in Lubbock, 70-64, on Jan. 5. Tech is 12-6 against OU in Lubbock.
Last Time vs. Oklahoma ~ Feb. 27, 2008
(AP) - Courtney Paris and Danielle Robinson each scored 19 points to lead No. 10 Oklahoma over Texas Tech 65-55. Paris, who also got 22 rebounds, extended her double-double streak to 87 games. She struggled in the first half but with her team down, Paris came out and scored the Sooners first seven points. Robinson picked up from there, scoring eight of OU's next 12 points, including a basket to tie it at 48. Jenna Plumley hit her third three of the game to put OU up for good at 51-50. The comeback by Oklahoma included a 14-4 run for a 60-52 lead with four minutes remaining. Tech was held to two field goals in an 11-minute span late in the game and hit on only nine of 17 free throws. The Sooners, who last month beat Tech 78-39 to hand the Lady Raiders their worst loss since 1990, have now won 10 of their last 11 games. Jordan Murphree scored 18 points and Maria Moore added 12 to lead the Lady Raiders. Tech led 36-29 at halftime. The Lady Raiders tied it at 16 and used a 19-5 run, with Murphree scoring nine points, to go up 31-21. During the spurt, the Sooners went 10 straight possessions without a field goal in a six-minute span. But OU battled back, using a 6-0 run to whittle the deficit to 31-27. Murphree hit her second three of the half to give the Lady Raiders their edge at the break.
Last Time Out
Texas Tech suffered a six-point lost at Nebraska, 62-56, on Saturday afternoon, which snapped a 12-game winning streak against the Huskers.
Nebraska dominated most of the game as Tech led only one time which was early in the first half, 7-5, at the 14:54 mark. The Huskers took the lead back at 9-7 on a jumper by Yvonne Turner with 14:09 to go before the Tiny Henderson hit a jumper for the Lady Raiders to knot the score at 19 with five minutes remaining in the half. From there, the Huskers finished the half on a 9-4 run to lead 28-23 at the break.
Nebraska opened the second half on a 13-4 run in the first five minutes of action to go up 41-27. Turner hit a layup at the 7:47 mark to give the Huskers a 19-point lead at 56-37, their largest advantage of the game.
After a timeout called by Tech coach Kristy Curry with 7:45 remaining, the Lady Raiders went on a 16-2 run over the next six minutes to cut the lead to five at 58-53. Tech got within four at 60-56 on a three-pointer by Jordan Murphree with 50 seconds left in the contest. Murphree's three-pointer was her third-straight in under a minute and a half of play. However, Nebraska hung on to claim the six-point victory.
Murphree led the Lady Raiders with 18 points, while Kierra Mallard finished with 13 and Henderson added 10. Mallard also grabbed nine rebounds.
Cory Montgomery had 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Huskers.
Tech outrebounded Nebraska 43-32, and the Huskers outshot the Lady Raiders 43.4 percent to 35.9 percent.
The Lady Raiders also committed 23 turnovers, their second most in Big 12 play this year and the third most this season.
A Look Ahead
The Lady Raiders 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 Feb. 12, Texas Tech ranks 41st in turnovers per game at 15.7, among all NCAA Division I teams.
Change in Lineup
Head coach Kristy Curry has used 11 different lineups in 24 games this season. One lineup has been used in 10 games - Ashlee Roberson (F), Dominic Seals (F) Kierra Mallard (C), Maria Moore (G) and Jordan Murphree (G). Tech is 5-5 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 then got another top 10 win as it defeated then No. 12/8 Texas A&M, 60-53, on Feb. 11, in Lubbock, snapping a six-game losing streak against the Aggies.
Tech vs. the Top 25
Texas Tech is 2-5 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 then No. 5/4 Baylor, 76-64, on Jan. 24, before losing at then No. 16/18 Texas, 77-46, on Feb. 8. Tech got its second top 25 win in a 60-53 triumph over then No. 12/8 Texas A&M on Feb. 11, in Lubbock.
Mallard Has Career High, Another Double-Double
Freshman Kierra Mallard had her 13th game of the year of double-figure scoring as she had 13 points at Nebraska. All but two of her double-digit outputs have come in the last 15 games. For the first nine games of the season, Mallard was averaging 7.1 points, and in the last 15 contests she has upped that average to 11.7 points per game. She has also increased her rebound average as well, grabbing 5.4 boards to start the season compared to 9.8 rebounds in the last 15 games.
Hitting the 3
Junior Jordan Murphree hit a career-high four three-pointers in Tech's loss at Nebraska. Her previous career high was three on three occasions in her career.
Big Minutes for Tiny
Senior Tiny Henderson got 34 minutes of playing time at Nebraska, which matched her season high in minutes as she also played 34 minutes against Washington in November. Henderson scored 10 points, tied her season-high six rebounds and tallied a season-high three steals against the Huskers. Her 10 points were just the second time this season she had scored in double figures. She scored a season-high 11 points versus South Florida in the Paradise Jam back in November.
Balanced Attack
For the fourth time this season and the first time in Big 12 play, the Lady Raiders had five players score in double figures in their win over No. 12/8 Texas A&M on Feb. 11. Freshman Kierra Mallard led the way with 15 points, while juniors Jordan Murphree and Tilmila Martin both finished with 12 points. Seniors Dominic Seals and Maria Moore had 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Ninth Double-Double for Seals
Senior Dominic Seals scored 11 points and grabbed 12 rebounds against Texas A&M on Feb. 11, for her ninth double-double of the season and the 18th of her career. Seals has scored in double figures in 20 of 24 games and has had double-digit rebounds on nine occasions.
Mighty Mallard
Freshman Kierra Mallard tallied a career-high five blocks at Texas. Her previous career-high was four against Arkansas in January. She also grabbed 10 rebounds against the Longhorns, marking her sixth time this season with double-digit rebounds and the third-straight game.
Barncastle Back in Double Digits
Freshman Jordan Barncastle scored 13 points against Savannah State marking the first time she has scored in double figures since scoring 12 against Sacramento State on Dec. 20. It was her fifth double-figure scoring game of the season.
Texas Tech Stealers
Senior Dominic Seals and junior Ashlee Roberson both collected a career-high four steals against Savannah State. Both of their previous career highs were three on two occasions for both players. The Lady Raiders finished with a season-high 19 steals.
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.
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.
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.
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 played at Nebraska (L, 56-62) 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.
