Texas Tech University Athletics
No. 25 Lady Raiders Host Texas on Wednesday
January 25, 2011 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 25, 2011
Upcoming Promotions
Texas • Jan. 26
• Texas Tech University System Faculty and Staff Appreciation Night - Call 742-TECH for $10 tickets for staff and family (a $5 savings). Also available at the window on gameday.
• Healthcare Providers Night - $15 for ticket, food and drink voucher, and Double T band-aid dispenser to first 250. Call 742-TECH to order today!
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• Guns Up Club Members - Free admission.
Texas A&M • Feb. 5
• NCAA Pack the House Challenge! - All tickets only $3. Order in advance by calling 742-TECH or purchase at the window on gameday. Help the Lady Raiders "Pack the House" against the Aggies!
• Wienerschnitzel Family 4 Pack - Four tickets, four hot dogs, four popcorns, four sodas. Call 742-TECH or order online today.
RV/#25 Texas Tech (16-3/3-2 Big 12) vs. RV/RV Texas (12-7/1-4 Big 12)
Wednesday, January 26 • Lubbock, Texas
United Spirit Arena (15,050) • 7 p.m.
The Game
No. 25 Texas Tech (16-3/3-2) looks to snap a two-game losing streak as it returns to the United Spirit Arena to host Texas (12-7/1-4) on Wed., Jan. 26, at 7 p.m. It is the 84th 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 and Crystal Boles call the game. The game can also be heard on the internet at TexasTech.com through RaiderVision All Access. Live streaming is also available through RaiderVision All Access and live stats are available through GameTracker at TexasTech.com.
The Lady Raiders
No. 25 Texas Tech is 16-3 overall and 3-2 in the Big 12 after losing at No. 1/1 Baylor, 64-51, last Saturday. On the year, junior Kierra Mallard paces the team in scoring with a 13.6 average followed by senior Teena Wickett at 10.6 and sophomore Casey Morris at 8.5. Mallard is averaging a team-best 7.8 rebounds per outing, while Wickett is averaging 7.1. Mallard is shooting 48.7 percent from the field. Sophomore Mary Bokenkamp is shooting a team-high 45.7 percent from behind the arc, and sophomore Chynna Brown has a team-best 85.7 percent from the free throw line. Sophomore Monique Smalls has team highs of 67 assists and 49 steals. Mallard is the top shot blocker with 37 blocks. The Lady Raiders are averaging 68.5 points per game, while allowing their opponents 53.6 points per contest. Tech is shooting 42.3 percent from the field, 33.9 percent from three-point range and 68 percent from the charity stripe.
The Opponent
Texas snapped a four-game losing streak on Saturday with a 63-56 win over Oklahoma State to improve to 12-7 on the year and 1-4 in the Big 12. On the year, freshman Chassidy Fussell leads the Longhorns in scoring with a 17.4 average followed by senior Kathleen Nash at 15.4 , junior Ashleigh Fontenette at 13.2 and junior Yvonne Anderson at 10.9. Junior Ashley Gayle is the top rebounder, grabbing 8.7 boards per outing. Fontenette has team highs of 78 assists and 46 steals and Gayle is the top shot blocker with 81 blocks. Texas is averaging 82.3 points per game and allowing its opponents 68.5 points. The Longhorns are shooting 43.1 percent from the field, 35.8 percent from three-point range and 68.5 percent from the free throw line.
The Series
Texas Tech and Texas are meeting for the 84th time in the series with the Longhorns holding a 58-25 advantage over the Lady Raiders. Last year Texas won both games, first in double overtime, 95-90, on Jan. 16, in Lubbock, and then on Feb. 7, 81-51, in Austin. Prior to last year, the Lady Raiders had won six-straight home games against the Longhorns with their last win in Lubbock on Jan. 10, 2009, 65-62. Tech is 15-18 against Texas in Lubbock.
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 82-65 at Tech and a career record of 261-116 in 12 years. Gail Goestenkors is in her fourth year as head coach at Texas with a record of 77-43. She is in her 19th year as a head coach with a career record of 473-142.
Last Year vs. Texas
January 16 - (AP) Brittainey Raven scored 20 points, hitting two key free throws with 26 second left in double overtime for No. 19 Texas to seal a 95-90 win against Texas Tech. Raven's free throws gave Texas a 94-90 lead. The Longhorns trailed 83-77 in the first overtime with 22 seconds left. They scored three straight baskets after forcing turnovers on inbounds plays to tie the score. Ashleigh Fontenette had 16 points and 11 rebounds for Texas. Teammate Kathleen Nash also had a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Raven and Nash scored the first four points in the second overtime to take an 89-85 lead with three minutes left. Jordan Murphree and Ashlee Roberson each scored a career-high 29 points for Texas Tech. Murphree added 13 rebounds and eight assists. The score was tied at 71 at the end of regulation. Texas Tech lost its first home game this season after 12 consecutive wins, dating back to last season.
February 7 - (AP) Brittainey Raven scored a game-high 22 points to help No. 17 Texas defeat Texas Tech 81-51. Raven hit four 3-pointers as the Longhorns shot 50 percent from behind the arc. Kat Nash and Cokie Reed each scored 13 points for Texas. The last time these two teams met, Texas was forced into double overtime by the Lady Raiders and narrowly escaped with a 95-90 win. This time, the Longhorns wouldn't let that happen. Ashlee Roberson had a double-double for the Lady Raiders finishing with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Nash helped spark Texas after the half, scoring eight points in the first eight minutes. Raven continued to cut through Texas Tech's interior defense as the Longhorns jump out to a 67-45 lead on a fastbreak lay-up with just over five minutes left in the game to seal the win. Texas Tech jumped out to a 17-14 lead on a fastbreak layup by Christine Hyde with just over 10 minutes in the first half. The advantage was short-lived as the Longhorns went on a 19-2 run over the next five minutes to take a 33-19 lead. Roberson scored eight consecutive points for the Lady Raiders to close the gap. Raven led Texas with 13 points in the first half and hit a 3-pointer from the wing as time expired to give the Longhorns a 43-32 advantage at the break.
The Last Time Out
(AP) - Brittney Griner had 25 points, seven rebounds and six blocked shots as the Lady Bears extended their winning streak to 15 games. She scored the first six points in a 12-5 run to start the second half that wiped out a one-point deficit and put Baylor ahead to stay. Griner, the preseason AP All-American, was 8 of 14 from the field 8 of 10 on free throws. Christine Hyde had 14 points to lead Texas Tech, which lost its second consecutive game to a Top 25 team since its second eight-game winning streak of the season. After Hyde hit a basket with 1:41 left to get the Lady Raiders within 57-51, Melissa Jones hit a game-clinching 3-pointer. After Griner hit two free throws in the opening minute of the second half for a 30-29 lead, Teena Wickett hit a 3-pointer to put the Lady Raiders back in front before Griner's jumper tied the game. Baylor then went ahead for good when Griner caught Odyssey Sims' inbound pass under the basket and made a short jumper while being fouled. Griner missed the free throw, but Jones grabbed the rebound and got the ball to Destiny Williams for a layup. The Lady Bears had a 53-38 lead when Sims hit a 3-pointer with 9 minutes left. Tech then scored eight in a row, six by Hyde. Jones had 13 points. Destiny Williams had 11 points and a team-high eight rebounds for the Lady Bears. Chynna Brown and Wickett both had 12 points for Tech. Kierra Mallard had 11. Sims, the freshman starting point guard, got called for a charge only 1 1/2 minutes into the game. Officials took an extended look at video replay before determining that it was an intentional foul on Sims for shoving Monique Smalls hard in front of the Texas Tech bench. Smalls went to the locker room briefly for an apparent busted lip, but was back in the game midway through the first half. The Lady Raiders got nothing out of the penalty. Brown missed both free throws, then Wickett turned it over. That came after Mallard had already been called a questionable foul on Griner away from the ball in the opening minute of the game. Sims' foul was sandwiched by Griner's short jumper and a driving layup by Jones for a 4-0 lead - the largest gap by either team in the first half. Baylor played most of it without Sims, who had two early fouls and played only 5 minutes. There were nine lead changes and six ties by the break. Texas Tech got the 29-28 halftime lead on Hyde's 3-pointer with 1:21 left.
A Look Ahead
Texas Tech plays at Nebraska on Sat., Jan. 29, at 7:05 p.m. The next game will be on Sat., Feb. 5, in Lubbock against Texas A&M at 2 p.m. on the Texas Tech Sports Network. The Lady Raiders then hit the road for two-straight games - at Oklahoma State on Wed., Feb. 9, at 7 p.m., and at Colorado on Sat., Feb. 12, at 5 p.m. CST. Tech returns to the United Spirit Arena for two games against Iowa State on Wed., Feb. 16, at 7 p.m., and Baylor on Sat., Feb. 19, at 12:30 p.m. on FSN.
NCAA RPI
In the NCAA RPI (rate percentage index) as of games through Jan. 23, Texas Tech is ranked 25th - the third highest team in the Big 12 behind Texas A&M (fifth) and Baylor (sixth).
New Website Unveiled
The women's basketball program unveiled a new fan website on Jan. 4 - www.goladyraiders.com. Fans can keep up with the Lady Raiders on this new and exciting website that features the past and the present of Lady Raider basketball. The website is an interactive site that provides video, information and a more inside look at the Texas Tech women's basketball program. Content will be updated throughout the season to keep fans up-to-date on the Lady Raiders.
NCAA Stats
As of games through Jan. 23, Texas Tech ranks 11th in rebound margin at 9.8, 14th in scoring defense at 53.6, 16th in won-lost percentage at 84.2, 24th in scoring margin at 14.9, 33rd in three-point field goal percentage defense at 27.7, 35th in steals at 11.3, 42nd in field goal percentange defense at 36.0 and 47th in personal fouls at 15.3, among all Division I teams.
Ball Snatchers
Texas Tech has tallied 215 steals in its 19 games for an average of 11.3 steals per game, which ranks second in the Big 12. Tech had a season-high 18 steals versus Missouri as senior Teena Wickett tallied a career-high six steals in that game.
Outrebounding Opponents
In the 19 games this year, the Lady Raiders have outrebounded their opponents 15 times. Tech is outrebounding its opponents by 9.8 boards per contest, which is second in the Big 12.
Opponents Points Per Game
Texas Tech has held its opponents to just 53.6 points per game. Only six opponents have scored 60 or more points so far this season while Mississippi Valley State scored only 28 points. Tech has held three of its opponents to under 40 points and three to under 50 points.
Mallard Cracks Top 10 in Blocks
Junior Kierra Mallard cracked the top 10 in career blocks this season and currently stands sixth all-time with 128 blocks. Standing in fifth is Gwen McCray (1979-83) with 135. Mallard recorded a career-high seven blocks at Oklahoma.
Smalls Starting Streak
Sophomore Monique Smalls got her 52nd-straight start at Baylor. The Woodlands, Texas, native was the only player to start all 33 games in 2009-10.
Best Start Since 2003-04
Texas Tech is off to its best start since the 2003-04 season when it went 17-1 to start the year. That season the Lady Raiders finished 25-8 and lost in the second round of the NCAA Championship to Louisiana Tech in Missoula, Mont. It is the first time Tech has started Big 12 play 3-0 under Kristy Curry.
Another Double-Figure Output for Brown
Sophomore Chynna Brown had her third and fourth-consecutive double-figure scoring games last week as she poured in 17 points at No. 14/13 Oklahoma and then had 12 points at No. 1 Baylor. Brown has had six double-digit scoring efforts this year, all coming in the last eight games.
Four in Double Digits at Baylor
The Lady Raiders had four players in double figures at Baylor. Sophomore Christine Hyde came off the bench to score a team-high 14 points, while sophomore Chynna Brown and senior Teena Wickett both had 12 points and junior Mallard finished with 11. Texas Tech's bench scored 26 of its 51 points against the Lady Bears as all 26 points came from Hyde and Brown.
Mallard Seeing Double Again
With 21 points and 12 rebounds, junior Kierra Mallard picked up her seventh double-double of the year at Oklahoma. It was her second-straight as well. She now has 16 career double-doubles.
Brown Hits Game Winner
Sophomore Chynna Brown led Texas Tech in scoring against K-State with 13 points. It marked her fourth double-digit scoring effort this season.
Sixth Double-Double for Mallard
Junior Kierra Mallard registered her sixth double-double of the season as she had 12 points and a season-high 14 rebounds against the Wildcats.
Wickett's First Double-Double at Tech
Senior Teena Wickett also recorded a double-double versus K-State with 11 points and a season-high 13 rebounds. The double-double marked the first as a Lady Raider and the sixth of her career. Wickett had five during her freshman year at Pepperdine. It was also her 10th double-digit scoring game of the year.
Déjà vu
It may have seemed like déjà vu as Texas Tech had to come back from double-digit deficits to win two-straight games by almost the exact same score. Tech was down 15 at Kansas and came back to win 61-57 and then erased a 14-point deficit against Missouri to claim a 63-56 victory.
Career High for Brown
Sophomore Chynna Brown scored a career-high 22 points as she came off the bench and played 28 minutes in the win over Missouri last Wednesday. Brown was 6-for-11 from the field, including 1-for-1 from three-point range, and was a perfect 9-for-9 from the charity stripe. She also tied career highs of eight rebounds and three steals. Brown scored her previous career high of 16 points at Western Kentucky on Dec. 29.
Three-Straight Double-Doubles
Junior Kierra Mallard had her fourth and fifth double-doubles of the year as she had 11 points and 12 rebounds versus Houston Baptist and 15 points and 11 rebounds at Kansas. Mallard registered three-straight double-doubles as she had 11 points and 12 rebounds at Western Kentucky as well. She has scored in double figures in 13 of 16 games this season and has 14 career double-doubles.
Ninth Double-Digit Effort for Wickett
Senior Teena Wickett also finished with a team-high 15 points at Kansas, marking her ninth game of the season of double-figure scoring. The 15 points was her third-highest output of the year.
Career-High Boards
Sophomore Christine Hyde tied her career-high seven rebounds, while freshman Shauntal Nobles collected a career-high six rebounds against Houston Baptist. It marked the third time in Hyde's career for her to register seven boards.
Another Double-Digit Game for Wickett
Senior Teena Wickett chipped in 11 points at Western Kentucky for her eighth double-digit scoring effort, marking her fourth-straight game of scoring in double figures. She also tied her career high of four steals.
Over 50 Percent from the Field
For the fourth time this season, the Lady Raiders shot over 50 percent from the field as they hit 51.9 percent (27-52) of their shots against the Lady Toppers. Tech's other three games were against Northwestern State (54 percent), a season-high 60.3 percent against Charleston Southern and 50.9 percent versus American.
Big 12 Player of the Week
Senior Teena Wickett was named the Phillips 66 Big 12 Player of the Week after recording game highs of 16 points, eight rebounds, four steals and two assists in Texas Tech's win over California Dec. 20. The four steals tied her career high. Six of her points came from the free throw line where she was a perfect 6-for-6. Wickett saw 33 minutes of action against the Bears.
Shining Stars in Las Vegas
Senior Teena Wickett was named MVP of the Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic as she averaged 13.5 points and 7.0 rebounds while shooting 56 percent from the field in Tech's wins over Pittsburgh and California. Sophomores Casey Morris and Chynna Brown were named to the all-tournament team.
Brown Sparks Lady Raiders
Sophomore Chynna Brown was a spark the Lady Raiders needed in the Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic. She came off the bench against Pitt and had seven points, six rebounds, two steals and two assists in 20 minutes of play. Brown then scored 11 points, grabbed six rebounds and added two steals and one assist in 26 minutes versus California.
Best Game of Year for Smalls
Sophomore Monique Smalls arguably had her best overall game of the season against California. In 36 minutes of play, the floor general scored a season-high 11 points, grabbed three rebounds and added two assists and two steals.
Nobles Gets First Start
Freshman Shauntal Nobles got her first career start in the victory against California. Nobles got the start at center as junior Kierra Mallard was suffering from the stomach flu and saw just five minutes of play against the Bears.
Season High for Morris
Sophomore Casey Morris poured in a season-high 18 points against Pittsburgh in Las Vegas. Her previous season highs was 17 at New Mexico and against Sam Houston State. Her career high is 20 points versus St. Mary's (Calif.) during her freshman year at Cal.
Career High for JB
Senior Jordan Barncastle scored a career-high 24 points in the win over Northwestern State. The junior forward shot 80 percent from the field, 100 percent from three-point range and 100 percent from the charity stripe. She also finished with seven rebounds, tied a season-high three assists, tied a career-high two blocks and added a steal.
All-Tournament Team
Junior Kierra Mallard was named MVP of the World Vision Classic, while senior Teena Wickett and sophomore Casey Morris were named to the all-tournament team. All three scored in double figures in all three games.
Lowest Opponent Output Since 2003
The Lady Raiders held Mississippi Valley State to just 28 points on Nov. 23. It was the lowest-scoring output by an opponent since Wyoming had 26 points on Dec. 6, 2003, which tied the school record. Tech also only allowed 26 points against McMurry back on Feb. 24, 1978.
Largest Rebound Margin in Six Years
Texas Tech outrebounded Mississippi Valley State by 30 boards - 56-26, marking the largest rebound margin since having 25 more than Sacramento State (57-32) on Dec. 28, 2004.
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.
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.
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 (W, 91-60), Kansas State (W2OT, 68-66), at Oklahoma (L, 61-71), Texas A&M (Feb. 5) and Oklahoma (Mar. 5). David Thetford will be doing the play-by-play for the Texas Tech Sports 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 Oklahoma
Time Warner Cable (Texas Channel) for Texas A&M
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
Lady Raider Basketball with Kristy Curry is held on 10 Mondays throughout the season. The show is held at Ruby Tequila's located on north University Avenue from 6-7 p.m. The remaining dates are: January 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.
