Texas Tech University Athletics
Tech Takes on Mississippi Valley State on Tuesday
November 22, 2010 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 22, 2010
Mississippi Valley State Preview
Mississippi Valley State Gamenotes 
Upcoming Promotions
Mississippi Valley State Game • Nov. 23
• Four for $20 - Thanksgiving Gift (4 Tix 4 only $20).
• Canned Food Drive - Bring four cans of food and receive free admission.
• Guns Up Club Members - Free admission.
• Note - Your men's or women's ticket is good for admission to both games. Fans attending the men's basketball game are encouraged to stay for the women's game by simply moving around to the south-end of the arena. Additionally, those coming for the women's basketball game are encouraged to come early and catch the men's game. The men play Liberty at 1 p.m.
• Guns Up Club Members get free admission
For more details on any promotions, fans can call 806-742-8300.
Texas Tech (3-0) vs. Mississippi Valley State (1-2)
Tuesday, November 23 • 5:30 p.m. • Lubbock, Texas • United Spirit Arena
The Game
Texas Tech (3-0) continues its home stand by hosting Mississippi Valley State (1-2) on Tues., Nov. 23, at 5:30 p.m. at the United Spirit Arena. The game is part of a doubleheader with the men's team who plays Georgia Southern after the women's game.
On the Air
The game can be heard on the radio on the Texas Tech Sports Network as Steve Strain 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 3-0 after defeating Idaho State, 64-52, on Sunday. On the year, sophomore Casey Morris paces the team in scoring with a 13.7 averaged followed by junior Kierra Mallard at 13.3 and senior Teena Wickett at 11.3. Wickett is the top rebounder, grabbing 9.7 boards per outing. Morris is shooting 45.2 percent from the field. Sophomore Mary Bokenkamp is shooting a team-best 63.6 percent from behind the arc. Mallard has a team-high 100 percent from the free throw line. Wickett leads the team in assists with 11, while sophomore Monique Smalls has a team-high 11 steals. Mallard is the top shot blocker with three blocks. The Lady Raiders are shooting 36.5 percent from the field, 33.9 percent from three-point range and 68.2 percent from the charity stripe.
The Opponent
Mississippi Valley State is 1-2 on the year after losing a heartbreaker at Arkansas, 55-54, on Nov. 17. In that game, junior Ka'Neshia Smith scored a game-high 18 points and sophomore Lenise Stallings chipped in 11 points. Smith also had game highs of 14 rebounds and eight assists. She also added one block. Sophomore Alia Frank tallied three steals. On the year, junior De'Kisha Fondon leads the Devilettes in scoring a 13.0 points per game followed by freshman Olivia Kennedy and Smith both at 9.3. Smith is the top rebounder, grabbing 6.7 boards per contest. Smith also has a team-high 15 assists, while Frank leads the team in steals with 10 and blocks with four. The Devilettes are shooting 33.7 percent from the field, 36.8 percent from three-point range and 62.3 percent from the free throw line.
The Series
It is the first meeting between Texas Tech and Mississippi Valley State.
The Coaches
Texas Tech head coach Kristy Curry is in her fifth season at the helm of the Lady Raiders. Curry has compiled a record of 69-62 at Tech and a career record of 248-113 in 12 years. Nate Kilbert is in 10th year as head coach of the Devils with a career record of 92-172.
The Last Time Out
Despite its lowest shooting percentage since the 2008-09 season, the Texas Tech women's basketball team pulled through to get a 64-52 win over Idaho State. Tech got its first points on a pair of free throws by Monique Smalls at the 16:03 mark and didn't hit its first bucket until 15:48 when Kierra Mallard made a layup. The Lady Raiders made just two field goals in the first six minutes of the game. The game was tied at 7-7 at 13:29 and then Tech scored back-to-back buckets as Chynna Brown made a layup, and on Idaho State's next possession Smalls got a steal and scored the easy layup to put Tech up 11-7. The Bengals responded by scoring the next two baskets to tie the game at 11-11 with 9:47 to go. Idaho State took back the lead with just under four minutes to play as Chelsea Pickering nailed a three to give the Bengals a 21-20 advantage. Tech answered that with two-straight layups by Jordan Barncastle and Marissa Ashton to put Tech back on top 24-21 with 3:14 remaining in the period. Tech went up by five at 28-23 with 56 seconds left as Mallard connected on two free throws. Teena Wickett then made one of two free throws to put the Lady Raiders up by six, their largest lead of the half, with 30 seconds to go. Tech led 29-23 at the half. The Lady Raiders opened the second half scoring eight points in the first three minutes, including Casey Morris' back-to-back three-pointers to give Tech a 37-25 lead. Tech opened the half on a 10-2 run before Idaho State went on its own run starting at the 14:28 mark, scoring eight-straight points to cut the Lady Raider's lead to 39-34 with 10:40 to go. Tech was held scoreless for six minutes until Mary Bokenkamp nailed a three-pointer with 10:14 remaining to give the Lady Raiders a 42-34 lead. The Bengals hit their own three just seconds later to close the gap to five again and Bokenkamp drilled another three with eight and a half minutes to go to put Tech up 45-37. The Lady Raiders took back a double-digit lead with just over four and a half minutes to go starting with a three-pointer by Bokenkamp and then a pair of free throws by Smalls to give Tech a 50-39 advantage. Bokenkamp hit her fourth three-pointer with 4:11 for a 14-point lead, 53-39. The Lady Raiders largest lead of the game was 15 points which occurred twice - first at 61-46 with 54 seconds to go on two free throws by Wickett and then the last time with 30 seconds on the clock on a layup by Wickett, 63-48. Bokenkamp led Tech with a career-high 15 points as she hit a career-high five three-pointers. Morris finished with 12 points and Smalls added 10. Wickett had her second-straight game of double-figure rebounds with 11. Pickering had 15 points for Idaho State. The Bengals shot 37.7 percent from the field (20-53), while Tech shot just 28.4 percent (19-67). It was Tech's lowest shooting percentage since shooting 27.6 percent (16-58) versus Iowa State on Feb. 28, 2009. Tech outrebounded Idaho State 47-39.
A Look Ahead
Texas Tech once again hosts a Basketball Travelers tournament and this year its the World Vision Classic Nov. 26-28. On Fri., Nov. 26, Tech plays Charleston Southern at 6 p.m., followed 30 minutes after by American and Sam Houston State. On Sat., Nov. 27, the Lady Raiders face American at 12 p.m. followed by Sam Houston State and Charleston Southern. On Sun., Nov. 28, Charleston Southern plays American at 12 p.m. followed by Tech and Sam Houston State at approximately 2 p.m. The last game of the seven-game home stretch is a match-up with UTSA on Wed., Dec. 1, at 7 p.m. Tech will take part in the Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge as it plays at Penn State on Sun., Dec. 5, at 1 p.m. CST. The Lady Raiders' last home game of 2010 will be on Tues., Dec. 7, against Northwestern State at 7 p.m. on the Texas Tech Sports Network. Tech heads west for the Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic and plays Pittsburgh on Sun., Dec. 19, at 2 p.m. CST and California on Mon., Dec. 20, at 4:15 p.m. CST. The games will be played at the Event Center at South Point Hotel, Casino and Spa.
Non-Conference Games
Texas Tech owns a 46-13 record in regular-season non-conference games in the Kristy Curry era, including the three wins this season. Of the 13 losses, four have them have been to teams ranked in the top 15 - No. 15 Stanford (2006-07), No. 10 Arizona State (2006-07); No. 3 California (2008-09) and No. 8 Tennessee (2009-10).
Ball Snatchers
Texas Tech has tallied 42 steals in its first three games for an average of 14 steals per game. Against Samford last week, three players tied their career highs in steals - senior Teena Wickett (3) and juniors Kierra Mallard (4) and Jordan Barncastle (2). Wickett also tied her career high again versus Idaho State.
Back-to-Back Double-Digit Boards
Senior Teena Wickett recorded back-to-back games of double-digit rebounds as she grabbed 12 boards against Samford, just one shy of tying her career high of 13, which she established against UCLA during her sophomore year at Pepperdine. She then collected 11 rebounds against Idaho State the following game.
Career High for Bokenkamp
Sophomore Mary Bokenkamp came off the bench to score a career-high 15 points against Idaho State. She also connected on a career-high five three pointers in 24 minutes of action.
Double-Digit Scoring for Morris
Sophomore Casey Morris is the only Lady Raider to have scored in double figures in all three games this season. Morris had 17 points at New Mexico in the season opener and 12 against Samford and Idaho State last week.
Poor Shooting Night
Texas Tech shot just 28.4 percent from the field against Idaho State. The Lady Raiders connected on just 19 of 67 shot attempts. The field goal percentage marked the lowest shooting percentage for Tech since shooting 27.6 percent (16-58) against Iowa State on Feb. 28, 2009.
Under 50 Points
Texas Tech has held its opponents to an average of 49.0 points per game so far this season as New Mexico scored 52, Samford had 42 and Idaho State got 52.
Smalls Starting Streak
Sophomore Monique Smalls got her 36th-straight start against Samford last Monday night. The Woodlands, Texas, native was the only player to start all 33 games in 2009-10.
Career High for Wickett
In her first game as a Lady Raider, senior Teena Wickett poured in a career-high 19 points in the win at New Mexico. Wickett was 8-14 from the field in 24 minutes of play.
Three in Double Digits
Senior Teena Wickett, junior Kierra Mallard and sophomore Casey Morris all scored in double figures to lead Texas Tech to an 80-53 victory at New Mexico. All three started the game as Wickett finished with 19 points, followed by Morris with 17 and Mallard with 15.
All 15 Players See Minutes
In the season opener at New Mexico, all 15 players saw playing time and all but three players scored in the 27-point win.
Wright to Be Inducted into Hall of Fame
Assistant coach Shereka Wright will be inducted into the Texas High School Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in May 2011. Wright was the USA Today, Gatorade and WBCA Player of the Year as a senior at Copperas Cove High School in 2000. She was also named first team all-state and Miss Basketball in the state of Texas. She finished her high school career with 3,269 points.
New Faces
Texas Tech has four new faces in the locker room this season - freshmen Kelsi Baker, Antiesha Brown, Haley Schneider and Ebony Walker. Also making their first appearance in a Lady Raider uniform is senior Teena Wickett, sophomore Casey Morris and redshirt freshman Shauntal Nobles. All three sat out last season.
Class Breakdown
The 2010-11 Lady Raiders are young. This year's roster has just three upperclassmen with one senior - Teena Wickett - and two juniors - Jordan Barncastle and Kierra Mallard. The sophomore class consists of Marissa Ashton, Chynna Brown, Mary Bokenkamp, Christine Hyde, Lindie Kimbro, Casey Morris and Monique Smalls. The five freshmen round out the roster - Kelsi Baker, Antiesha Brown, Shauntal Nobles, Haley Schneider and Ebony Walker.
Coaches Have Ties
Head coach Kristy Curry has put together a staff that is very familiar with each other. Curry has ties with all of her three assistant coaches with the first being her husband, Kelly Curry. Kelly has been on both of Kristy's staffs as a assistant coach at Purdue and Texas Tech, while Brooke Stoehr and Shereka Wright were both players for Kristy and Kelly. Stoehr, the former Brooke Lassiter was a guard at Louisiana Tech from 1998-2002 and played one season for Kristy and Kelly when they were both assistant coaches for the Lady Techsters. That year, 1999, Louisiana Tech advanced to the NCAA Final Four. In the spring of 1999, Kristy became the head coach at Purdue and in the fall of 1999 she signed Wright to attend Purdue. Wright helped lead Purdue to the 2001 National Championship game and was named to the NCAA Final Four All-Tournament team.
On the Tube
Texas Tech has nine regular-season games televised this season. The Lady Raiders will appear on FSN twice - Feb. 19 vs. Baylor and Feb. 26 vs. Oklahoma State. The game at Kansas on Jan. 8 will air in the Kansas City metro area on Metro Sports. Six games will be televised on the Texas Tech Sports Network - Samford (W, 58-42), Northwestern State (Dec. 7), Kansas State (Jan. 15), at Oklahoma (Jan. 19), Texas A&M (Feb. 5) and Oklahoma (Mar. 5). David Thetford will be doing the play-by-play for the Texas TechSports Network while former Lady Raider head coach Marsha Sharp will provide the color commentary. The following affiliates will televise all TTSN games:
Amarillo - KCPN-TV 33
Beaumont-Port Arthur - KUIL/MYTX
Lubbock - My Lubbock TV KMYL
Tyler-Longview - MYTX/KYTX DT-2
Waco-Temple-Bryan - KYTX/KCEN DT-2
ESPN Full Court for Samford, Northwestern State and Oklahoma
Time Warner Cable (Texas Channel) for just the Samford, at Oklahoma and Texas A&M games
Follow the Lady Raiders
All Lady Raider basketball games can be heard live on the Texas Tech Sports Network. TTSN has put together a seven-station network that offers coverage through the state of Texas and in parts of New Mexico. KJTV/KLZK-Lubbock serve as the network flagship stations. Listen to play-by-play by Steve Strain and color commentary by Crystal Boles as they take the court with the Lady Raiders. The following radio stations will air the Lady Raider basketball games this season:
Abilene/Haskell - KVRP 97.1 FM
Hereford - KPAN 106.3 FM
Hobbs, NM - KHOB 1390 AM
Lamesa - KPET 690 AM
Lubbock - KJTV 950 AM
Lubbock - KLZK 97.3 FM
Plainview - KVOP 1090 AM
The Kristy Curry Radio Show
The Kristy Curry Radio Show be held on 10 Mondays throughout the season beginning in December. The show will be held at Ruby Tequila's located on north University Avenue from 6-7 p.m. The following are the dates for the 2010-11 season: December 6, 13; January 10, 17, 24, 31; February 7, 14, 28; and March 7.
Signed, Sealed and Delivered
Texas Tech signed standout guard Amber Battle to a National Letter of Intent to attend Texas Tech in the fall of 2011. The 5-9 Battle hails from Albuquerque, N.M. and averaged 16 points, seven rebounds and five assists as a junior at Cibola High School. Battle is the 13th-ranked guard in the country by ESPN HoopGurlz.com, as well as the No. 76 overall player.
