Texas Tech University Athletics
Lady Raiders Host No. 25/24 Iowa State Saturday
February 26, 2009 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 26, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format 
Game 28 vs. #25/24 Iowa State • February 28, 2009
United Spirit Arena (15,050) • Lubbock, Texas • 8 p.m. • TTTN
The Game
Texas Tech (15-12/5-8) returns home to host No. 25/24 Iowa State (20-7/8-5) on Sat., Feb. 28, at 8 p.m., at the United Spirit Arena. It is the 16th meeting between the schools.
On the Air
The game is being televised on the Texas Tech Television Network, which airs locally in Lubbock on My Lubbock TV, as Drew Dougherty (play-by-play) and Crystal 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 15-12 on the year and 5-8 in the Big 12 after losing at No. 6/7 Baylor, 83-53, last Wednesday. On the year, senior Dominic Seals is averaging 13.5 points per game followed by junior Jordan Murphree at 11.3 and freshman Kierra Mallard at 10.0. Mallard is the top rebounder, grabbing 8.1 boards per outing and Seals is averaging 7.9 rebounds. Seals is shooting 44.2 percent from the field and junior Maddy Brown has a team-high 34.8 percent from the three-point line. Junior Tilmila Martin is shooting a team-best 86.8 percent from the free throw line. Senior Maria Moore has a team-high 87 assists, while Seals is the top shot blocker with 34 blocks. Murphree leads the team in steals with 45. The Lady Raiders are shooting 39.4 percent from the field, 30.8 percent from three-point range and 70.6 percent from the charity stripe.
Scouting the Opponent
No. 25/24 Iowa State enters the game with a 20-7 overall record and is 8-5 in Big 12 play after beating Colorado, 76-63, last Wednesday in Ames. In that game, sophomore Kelsey Bolte scored a game-high 23 points and juniors Alison Lacey and Nicky Wieben had 20 and 19 points, respectively. Bolte added nine rebounds and three steals, while Lacey had five assists and two blocks. On the year, senior Heather Ezell paces the Cyclones in scoring with an 11.6 average followed by Lacey at 10.8 and Wieben at 10.3. Lacey is the top rebounder, averaging 10.8 rebounds per contest. Lacey leads the team in assists with 86 and Ezell has a team-high 47 steals. Wieben is the top shot blocker with 29 blocks. Iowa State is shooting 38.9 percent from the field, 33.9 percent from the three-point arc and 73 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 47-44 at Tech and a career record of 226-95 in her 10th year. Bill Fennelly is in his 14th year as head coach at Iowa State with a record of 300-139. He is also in his 21st year as a head coach with a career record of 466-192.
Series Record
Texas Tech and Iowa State are meeting for the 16th time in the series with the Lady Raiders holding an 8-7 advantage. The Cyclones have won the last three games including last year's game, 66-58, in Ames on Feb. 6. The last time Tech won was in 2005 - 89-62, Feb. 8, in Lubbock and 61-59, in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Championship March 9, in Kansas City, Mo. The Lady Raiders are 5-1 against the Cyclones in Lubbock as Iowa State was victorious the last time in Lubbock, 72-68, on March 1, 2007.
Last Time vs. Iowa State ~ Feb. 6, 2008
Texas Tech's Tiny Henderson scored a season-high 17 points, but the Lady Raiders came up short to Iowa State, 66-58. The first 20 minutes saw six lead changes between the two teams. Tech (14-8/2-6) and Iowa State (14-7/3-5) went into the half tied at 21 all. In the second half, the Cyclones came out strong and went on a 12-2 run in the first four and half minutes to give them a 10-point lead at 33-23. Iowa State led the entire second half with its biggest lead of 11 coming with 13:19 remaining in the game. The Lady Raiders cut the lead to three on a jumper by Dominic Seal with just over four minutes to play and got within four points three times in the last four minutes. Seals added 13 points for Tech. Henderson also finished with team highs of six rebounds, five assists and four steals. Alison Lacey poured in 32 points to lead Iowa State. The Cyclones outrebounded the Lady Raiders 41-31.
Last Time Out
(AP) - Jhasmin Player took over in the second half for No. 6 Baylor. She didn't want to take any credit for it.
Player scored 14 of the Bears' points in a 16-4 run as Baylor easily defeated Texas Tech 83-53 on Wednesday night. She even blocked a shot to begin the stretch. Player finished with 18 points. Danielle Wilson had 13 points and 13 rebounds for Baylor (22-4, 10-3 Big 12). Morghan Medlock scored 12, Jessica Morrow had 11 and Melissa Jones 10.
Kierra Mallard scored 18 for Texas Tech (15-12, 5-8).
Baylor opened the game with a 10-2 run as Kelli Griffin and Morrow each hit a 3-pointer during the stretch. The Bears then put together a 10-0 run, hitting eight of nine free-throw attempts.
Wilson's three-point play with 13:51 left in the first half gave her 1,002 career points.
Texas Tech cut Baylor's lead to 15 early in the second half. Mallard scored eight consecutive points to pull the Red Raiders to within 56-41 with 14:08 to play.
After that, however, Player blocked Mallard's jumper and then got free inside for a layup to spark Baylor's run that put the game away.
Mallard's eight straight points was Texas Tech's biggest run of the game. And the fact that it was a freshman who was the highlight of her team didn't escape Tech coach Kristy Curry.
Seals and Moore came into the game averaging a combined 22.7 points for Texas Tech. Seals scored six and Moore had five.
A Look Ahead
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.
Change in Lineup
Head coach Kristy Curry has used 11 different lineups in 27 games this season. One lineup has been used in 12 games - Ashlee Roberson (F), Dominic Seals (F) Kierra Mallard (C), Maria Moore (G) and Jordan Murphree (G). Tech is 6-7 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 2-7 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. The Lady Raiders lost a heartbreaker to then No. 2/2 Oklahoma, 80-72, in Lubbock on Feb. 17. Tech then lost at then No. 6/7 Baylor, 83-53, on Feb. 25.
Season High From the Stripe
The Lady Raiders shot a season-high 91.3 percent from the free throw line at No. 6/7 Baylor last Wednesday. Tech hit 18-straight free throws before missing their first shot. Tech finished the game 21-of-23 from the charity stripe as freshman Kierra Mallard was a perfect 10-for-10.
Poor Shooting Night
Texas Tech shot just 27.5 percent in its loss at No. 6/7 Baylor on Feb. 25. Tech hit only 14-of-51 shot attempts, marking its second-lowest shooting percentage of the season. Its lowest shooting percentage of the season was 25 percent (15-60) versus Iowa on Nov. 27, in the Paradise Jam tournament.
Mallard Has Career High, Another Double-Double
Freshman Kierra Mallard had her 14th game of the year of double-figure scoring as she had 18 points at No. 6/7 Baylor. All but two of her double-digit outputs have come in the last 18 games. For the first nine games of the season, Mallard was averaging 7.1 points, and in the last 18 contests she has upped that average to 11.4 points per game. She has also increased her rebound average as well, grabbing 5.4 boards to start the season compared to 9.4 rebounds in the last 18 games.
Mallard Receives Second Big 12 Freshman of the Week Honor
Freshman Kierra Mallard was named the Phillips 66 Big 12 Freshman of the Week after she averaged 6.0 points and 8.5 rebounds in Texas Tech's games against No. 2 Oklahoma and at Oklahoma State the week of Feb. 16-22. The Dallas, Texas, native scored five points, grabbed six rebounds, dished out a career-high three assists and added a steal in Tech's eight point loss to OU. In the win at Oklahoma State, Mallard had seven points, 11 rebounds and a block. Mallard also was named the Big 12 Freshman of the Week on Jan. 5 for her performances against UCLA and Arkansas.
Murphree Has Back-to-Back 20-Point Games
For the first time in her career, junior Jordan Murphree turned in back-to-back 20-plus scoring games. In the 80-72 loss to No. 2 Oklahoma, Murphree poured in a career-high 25 points, and then scored 20 points in the win at Oklahoma State. Her previous career high was 22 points, which she scored against Arkansas in January. Murphree has scored in double figures in five of the last six games.
Tenth Double-Double for Seals
Senior Dominic Seals recorded her 10th double-double of the season as she tied her season-high 22 points and grabbed 13 rebounds at Oklahoma State. It marked the 19th of her two-year career. She has scored in double figures in 22 games this season and had double-digit rebounds 10 times.
Charity Shots
The Lady Raiders attempted a season-high 38 free throws at Oklahoma State, connecting on 27 of those shots for 71.1 percent. Senior Dominic Seals had 16 of those attempts, marking the first time a Lady Raider had attempted 15 or more free throws in a game since Plenette Pierson attempted 15 against Missouri on Jan. 28, 2003.
Seals Back in Double Digits
Senior Dominic Seals scored 17 points versus the Sooners for her 21st game of double-figure scoring. She just missed another double-double with nine rebounds.
Moore Comes Back
After injuring her left knee against Texas A&M on Feb. 11 and only playing three minutes at Nebraska on Feb. 14, senior point guard Maria Moore returned to the starting lineup against Oklahoma and at Oklahoma State and had back-to-back games of double-figure scoring as she had 13 and 11 points, respectively, against OU and OSU.
Cleaning the Glass
Junior Ashlee Roberson collected 11 rebounds versus Oklahoma, marking her third double-digit rebound game of the season. She grabbed a career-high 14 against Oklahoma State earlier this year and had 13 versus Arkansas in January. And then freshman Kierra Mallard had her seventh double-digit rebounding game as she collected 11 boards at Oklahoma State. Six of those 10-plus rebounding games have come during Big 12 play.
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.
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.
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.
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 (L, 72-80), 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)
