Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Plays Regular-Season Finale at Missouri
March 04, 2010 | Women's Basketball
March 4, 2010
Complete Release in PDF Format 
Game 30 vs. Missouri • March 7, 2010
Mizzou Arena (15,061) • Columbia, Mo. • 1 p.m.
The Game
Texas Tech (17-12/5-10) plays its regular-season finale as it travels to Columbia, Mo., to take on Missouri (11-17/1-14) on Sun., March 7, at 1 p.m. at Mizzou Arena. It is the 17th meeting between the two schools.
On the Air
The game can be heard on the radio on the Texas Tech Sports Network as Steve Strain (play-by-play) calls 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 17-12 overall and 5-10 in the Big 12 after losing to No. 14/15 Baylor, 69-60, on Wednesday in Lubbock. On the year, senior Jordan Murphree paces the Lady Raiders in scoring with a 12.7 average followed by senior Ashlee Roberson at 12.3 and sophomore Kierra Mallard at 11.5. Roberson is the top rebounder, grabbing 8.7 boards per contest and Mallard is averaging 6.7 rebounds. Mallard is shooting a team-best 44.2 percent from the field, while sophomore Jordan Barncastle is shooting 46.7 percent from the three-point arc and 83.8 percent from the free throw line. Freshman Monique Smalls has team highs of 119 assists and 60 steals. Mallard is the top shot blocker with 51 blocks. Tech is shooting 40.8 percent from the field, 32.9 percent from the three-point range and 65.4 percent from the charity stripe.
The Opponent
Missouri owns an 11-7 overall record and a 1-14 mark in Big 12 play after losing at No. 18/22 Texas, 60-41, on Wednesday. In that game, senior Jessra Johnson and junior Shakara Jones both scored 10 points and Jones added five rebounds. Sophomore Christine Flores collected three blocks and three steals. On the year, Johnson leads the Tigers in scoring with a 12.5 average followed by junior RaeShara Brown at 10.0. Johnson is the top rebounder, averaging 6.0 boards per outing. Brown has team highs of 86 assists and 86 steals. Flores is the top shot blocker with 36 blocks. Mizzou is shooting 37.7 percent from the field and 28.1 percent from the three-point line and 67.6 percent from the free throw line.
The Series
It is the 17th meeting between Texas Tech and Missouri with the Lady Raiders holding an 11-5 advantage over the Tigers. Tech won last year's game, 63-56, on March 7, in Lubbock. Mizzou was victorious in 2008, 68-59, in Columbia on Jan. 12. Tech's last win in Columbia was a 73-68 triumph on Feb. 17, 2004. The Lady Raiders are 2-4 against the Tigers in Columbia.
The Coaches
Texas Tech head coach Kristy Curry is in her fourth season at the helm of the Lady Raiders. Curry has compiled a record of 65-59 at Tech and a career record of 244-110 in 11 years. Cindy Stein is in her 12th year as head coach at Missouri with a record of 184-176. She is also in her 15th year as a head coach with a career record of 249-199.
Last Time vs. Missouri
March 7, 2009 - The Texas Tech women's basketball team snapped a three-game losing streak in a come-from-behind win over Missouri, 63-56. The first 20 minutes of play saw nine lead changes and five ties before Missouri took the last lead of the half at 5:48 on a three-pointer by Bekah Mills to give the Tigers a 23-20 lead. The Lady Raiders got within three again on a jumper by Tiny Henderson at 4:25. Neither team scored over the next three minutes until Christine Flores hit a jumper for the Tigers to give them a 27-22 lead at the half. Down five to start the second half, Tech's Dominic Seals hit two free throws in the first minute to cut the lead to three. But from there, Mizzou went on a 6-1 run to get its largest advantage of the game of nine points at 33-24. The Tigers got up by nine again at 35-26 with 15:22 to go in the contest before Tech started to chip away at the lead. With 12:58 remaining in the game Jordan Murphree got hot over the next six minutes as she scored 16 of 18 points for the Lady Raiders, including a jumper at 8:16 to tie the game for the first time since the 6:12 mark in the first half. Ashlee Roberson then hit a jumper to give Tech back the lead at 47-45 with 7:38 to go. That jumper marked the final lead change of the game as the Lady Raiders got up by as many as eight points with three minutes remaining in the game. Tilmila Martin was 8-for-8 from the free throw line during the final five and half minutes to help secure the win for Tech. Murphree scored a game-high 21 points, 19 of those coming in the second half, and Seals added 14 points. Kierra Mallard collected a game-high 10 rebounds. Tech outshot Mizzou 46.7 percent to 41.5 percent, while the Tigers outrebounded the Lady Raiders 33-31.
The Last Time Out
February 28 - (AP) - Brittney Griner scored 21 points before getting ejected from the game to lead No. 14 Baylor past Texas Tech 69-60. Officials tossed the freshman with 9:01 remaining after she punched Texas Tech sophomore forward Jordan Barncastle in the face. Griner likely faces additional discipline from Baylor and the Big 12, and Baylor coach Kim Mulkey said she will also deal with Griner. Baylor was up 55-39 when Barncastle fouled Griner while guarding her under the Lady Bears basket. As the Tech player was moving away and untangling her arm from Griner, the Baylor standout swung and landed a punch with her right hand on Barncastle's face. Texas Tech coach Kristy Curry said Barncastle has an appointment in the morning to determine the extent of her injury. Barncastle was not made available to the media following the game. She, Curry and several other Lady Raiders gathered in the arena's broadcast room after Curry finished with reporters' questions to view the incident. The replay showed Griner taking a roundhouse swing at Barncastle's face a few seconds after officials called her for a foul on Griner. Tech trailed 51-31 with 11:19 remaining but used a 14-5 run after the punch to pull within 60-55 with 3:01 left. Baylor hit 8 of 12 free throws down the stretch to seal the win, the fifth straight for the Lady Bears. Jordan Murphree scored 16 points to lead Texas Tech, which was outrebounded 42-26.
A Look Ahead
Texas Tech will compete in the 2010 Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship in Kansas City, Mo., Thurs.-Sun, March 11-14, at Municipal Auditorium.
NCAA Stats
As of games through Feb. 28, sophomore Kierra Mallard ranks 28th in blocked shots per game at 2.1 and freshman Monique Smalls is 31st in assist/turnover ratio at 1.92, among all NCAA Division I players. As a team, Texas Tech ranks 47th in steals per game at 10.1, among all NCAA Division I teams.
Top 25 Teams
The Lady Raiders have played 13 games against top 25 teams, including three top 10 teams, this year. Tech had played nine-straight games against a top 25 opponent prior to the game with Kansas. Tech also played at UCLA who was not ranked at the time but is currently in the top 25.
Murphree Reaches 1,000 Points
Senior Jordan Murphree reached the 1,000th-career point plateau at UCLA with her third basket of the game, a three-pointer. Murphree finished with a then season-high 22 points. She now has 1,257 career points, which ranks 15th all-time at Texas Tech.
Cracking the Top 10
Senior Jordan Murphree collected one steal at Texas A&M to crack the top 10 on Texas Tech's career steals list. Murphree currently has 191 steals in her career, which is ninth all-time. Standing in eighth is Tammy Walker (1987-91) with 209. Katrisa O'Neal (1997-01) holds the school record for steals with 352.
First Team Academic All-District
Senior Jordan Murphree was named CoSIDA ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VI first team. Murphree graduated cum laude in just three years with a degree in exercise and sport science. She has a 3.60 GPA and is working on a second degree in human development and family studies. This is her first time to be selected to the first team as she has twice been named to the second team.
Big 12 Player of the Week
Senior Ashlee Roberson was named the Phillips 66 Big 12 Player of the Week for her performances the week of Feb. 8-14. Roberson averaged 17.5 points and 9.5 rebounds in helping Texas Tech upset then No. 13/11 Texas A&M and No. 15/14 Oklahoma State.
Back-to-Back Top 15 Wins
Texas Tech got back-to-back wins over top 15 teams as it upset then No. 13/11 Texas A&M, 57-54, in Lubbock and then No. 15/14 Oklahoma State, 65-57, in Stillwater. The win at Oklahoma State marked the first time Tech had beaten a ranked team on the road since defeating No. 19/20 Nebraska, 70-69, on Feb. 14, 2007.
Career-High Points for Smalls
Freshman point guard Monique Smalls scored a career-high 13 points against No. 14/15 Baylor, breaking her previous high of 11 points which she had twice this year against then No. 11/12 Oklahoma and versus North Dakota back in December.
Three-Straight Games of 20-Plus Points
Senior Jordan Murphree turned in two 20-plus point performances last week, marking three-straight games of 20-plus points. Last week Murphree had 26 points in the overtime win at Kansas State and 21 points in the loss to Oklahoma State. She also had 20 points in the game against Kansas prior to those two games. Murphree has scored 20 or more points eight times this season.
arncastle Nails the Three
Sophomore Jordan Barncastle hit a career-high five three-pointers against the Cowgirls. She scored 17 points in the game with the other two points coming at the free throw line.
Season-High Three-Pointers
The Lady Raiders tied a season-high 13 three-pointers against Oklahoma State. Tech also made 13 three-pointers against Arkansas-Pine Bluff earlier this season. The 13 threes were just one shy of the school record 14 set in 2004 versus Oklahoma State.
Smalls Doing Dishes
Freshman Monique Smalls tied her career high of eight assists against Oklahoma State. She also dished out eight assists at OSU and against Arkansas-Pine Bluff back in November.
Murphree Leads Tech Over K-State
Senior Jordan Murphree scored a game-high 26 points, including 10 in the overtime period, to lead Texas Tech to a 75-67 win at Kansas State.
Roberson Adds More Double-Doubles
Senior Ashlee Roberson had her eighth, ninth and 10th double-doubles of the season in three-straight games as she had 10 points and 11 rebounds at then No. 15/14 Oklahoma State, then 12 points and 10 boards at then No. 18/19 Baylor and 13 points and 10 rebounds versus Kansas. She now has 13 double-doubles in her career.
Mallard Returns to Action
Sophomore Kierra Mallard returned to the court against Kansas after missing the previous four games due to a suspension. Mallard came off the bench and scored 10 points, grabbed six rebounds and tallied two blocks, two steals and two assists.
Offensive Glass
For the second time in three games, the Lady Raiders grabbed a season-high 21 offensive rebounds. Tech had 21 rebounds at Oklahoma State on Feb. 13 and then pulled down another 21 boards against Kansas.
Barncastle Pours in Career High
Sophomore Jordan Barncastle led Tech in an upset at then No. 15/14 Oklahoma State as she poured in a career-high 19 points, breaking her previous career high of 17 points set earlier this season against San Francisco. She also nailed a career-high three three-pointers in that game.
Roberson Leads Tech to Upset Aggies
Senior Ashlee Roberson scored a game-high 25 points, grabbed eight rebounds and hit a career-high four three-pointers to lead Texas Tech in upsetting No. 13/11 Texas A&M. It the first time the Lady Raiders had upset a top 25 team since beating No. 8/12 Texas, 65-62 on Jan. 10, 2009. It was Roberson's fourth time to score 20 or more points this season.
Brown Returns to Starting Lineup
Freshman Chynna Brown returned to the starting lineup in the games at Iowa State and at Texas. She started the first two games of the season before coming off the bench the next 18 contests. At Texas, she scored eight points in the first half before being sidelined with an injury. Her injury kept her out of the Texas A&M game on Feb. 10, and she returned to action at Oklahoma State the following game and grabbed a career-high seven rebounds.
Smalls Snatches the Ball
Freshman Monique Smalls tied her career high of six steals at then No. 22/18 Iowa State. She also had six steals against Prairie View A&M back in November.
Hyde Has Career-High Output
Freshman Christine Hyde came off the bench to score a career-high 15 points in a career-high 21 minutes of play against No. 6/4 Nebraska. Hyde broke her previous scoring high of nine points which she had against Texas-Arlington in November.
Murphree, Roberson Score Career Highs Against Horns
Seniors Jordan Murphree and Ashlee Roberson both scored a career-high 29 points in Texas Tech's double overtime loss to then No. 19/21 Texas. Murphree also collected a career-high 13 rebounds and tied a career-high eight assists. It was her second double-double of her career.
School Record Set for Fewest Turnovers
After committing season highs of 28 and 27 turnovers in back-to-back games, the Lady Raiders went on to set a new school record for fewest turnovers in a game when they had just two against Savannah State. It broke the old school record of five which occurred twice - against Texas A&M in 1983 and UTSA in 2003.
Freshmen in the Backcourt
Freshmen Monique Smalls and Chynna Brown got the start in the backcourt in their first collegiate game. Smalls started at the one, while Brown got the nod at the two. It marked the first time two freshmen had started in the backcourt in their first collegiate game since Julie Lake and Rene Hanebutt did so against Kent State on Nov. 24, 1995, at the Coors/Rocky Mountain Invitational at Colorado State.
Team Captains
In a vote by their teammates, seniors Jordan Murphree and Ashlee Roberson and freshman Lindie Kimbro were selected team captains for the 2009-10 season.
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.
Murphree and Wright Connection
Assistant coach Shereka Wright and senior Jordan Murphree may have several things in common but one thing for sure is that both had the same high school coach, Skip Townsend. Townsend coached Wright at Copperas Cove High School and Murphree at Brock High School.
Elite Team
Freshman Mary Bokenkamp was one of seven players from her high school team, Regis Jesuit, last year to sign with a Division I school. The six other players signed with Gonzaga (Meghan Winters), Montana State (Kelsey Roben), Pepperdine (Keyah Shealy), Santa Clara (Ruta Zurauskyte), UCLA (Mariah Williams) and Utah (Diana Rolniak).
International Flair
Freshman Christine Hyde is just the second international player to don a Lady Raider uniform. Hyde comes to the South Plains from Brampton, Ontario, Canada. The first international player for the Lady Raiders was Patrice Edwards (2004-07) from Trinidad-Tobago.
Degree in Hand
In May 2009, senior Jordan Murphree graduated cum laude in just three years. The Brock, Texas, native received her bachelor's degree in exercise and sport sciences and is currently working on a second degree in human development and family studies. Senior Tilmila Martin graduated in December and senior Ashlee Roberson will graduate in May, both with degrees in human development and family studies.
On the Tube
Texas Tech had 12 regular-season games televised this season. The Lady Raiders appeared on ESPNU three times, FSN twice, FSN Kansas City (FSNKC) once and the Texas Tech Sports Network (TTSN) six times. Tech played Tennessee (L, 53-91), at Texas (L, 51-81) and Kansas (W, 68-51) on ESPNU. The Lady Raiders' games on FSN included Texas (L2OT, 90-95) and Oklahoma State (L, 70-80). Tech's game at Kansas State (WOT, 75-67) was on FSNKC. The six games on TTSN were Arkansas-Pine Bluff (W, 97-57), Savannah State (W, 69-40), at Oklahoma (L, 58-73), Colorado (W, 74-61), Nebraska (L, 47-89) and Oklahoma (L, 66-70).
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 as he takes 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
Lady Raider Basketball with Kristy Curry
Kristy Curry's weekly television show, Lady Raider Basketball with Kristy Curry, is televised every Sunday throughout the rest of the season. 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 Ruby Tequila's on north University Ave. across from campus. The show will air on Double T 104.3 (KTTU FM) locally.
Signed, Sealed and Delivered
The Lady Raiders inked four student-athletes to National Letters of Intent during the early signing period. This year's class consists of 6-0 forward Kelsi Baker (Mesquite, Texas/John Horn), who is the 12th-ranked power forward and No. 71 overall player by ESPN HoopGurlz, 5-10 guard Antiesha Brown (Clovis, N.M./Clovis), 6-5 center Haley Schneider (Lubbock, Texas/Monterey) and 6-2 forward Ebony Walker (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia), who is the 25th-ranked power forward by ESPN HoopGurlz.
