Texas Tech University Athletics
'The Little Engine That Can'
December 06, 2011 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 6, 2011
by Alexandra Ellis
Texas Tech Athletics Communications
Her name might describe her stature, but don't let it fool you. Monique Smalls is anything but.
The junior guard utilizes her quickness and size on the court and currently ranks second in the Big 12 Conference in steals.
And that's no accident.
"I'm trying to bring up my defense more than the past two years," Smalls said. "I haven't been much of a steals person, but this year I've kind of gotten comfortable with the program, so steals are starting to come up, as well as my defense."
Smalls is just one part of Texas Tech's defensive resurgence this season, helping the Lady Raiders move up as high as a No. 16 ranking and 7-0 record to start the 2011-12 season.
 | "She's definitely our quarterback, our little engine that can." - Kristy Curry |
Smalls was recently named the MVP of the 2011 World Vision Basketball Invitational, which took place over Thanksgiving weekend in Lubbock at the United Spirit Arena. The Lady Raiders defeated the University of Missouri-Kansas City, the University of Central Arkansas, and the University of Louisiana-Monroe to be named the champions for the second consecutive year.
"It's great to see someone that doesn't justify their existence on points and rebounds, when usually those are the types of players that are recognized," Tech head coach Kristy Curry states. "To the group that made that decision, they made it on heart, hustle and leadership, and it's great to see that."
Smalls totaled 18 points and eight assists but was the catalyst for Tech's defense in the three games with 11 steals as Tech scored 87 points off 68 turnovers.
"It was nice that I got recognized for what I do," says Smalls. "But also I feel like just because I got the MVP, the whole team deserved it. Without them I wouldn't have gotten the steals, or without them I wouldn't have gotten the assists. I always feed off what my teammates do."
The credit of her teammates and coaches doesn't stop there. Smalls said she owes a lot to the help around her on and off the court.
"I look up to my teammates a lot because they help me get through a lot of stuff," Smalls added. "Some people have experienced things that I haven't, so for them to help me get through it helped me mature even more mentally.
"I really look up to coach Curry and the staff because with them, they're helping me develop leadership through skills, she says. "And they're helping me be vocal. If they can't stay stuff on the court, I have to be the one to say it. They're helping me mature more and be more of a vocal leader."
Coach Curry has a tremendous amount of faith in her 5-foot-6 guard. Curry recognized Smalls' ability to keep fighting.
Recently, Smalls suffered a hip-pointer in the opening minutes of the contest against Texas State, and sat out the rest of the game. After being listed as day-to-day, Smalls was in the starting line-up three days later against No. 16 Penn State at the United Spirit Arena. In front of 8,923 screaming Lady Raider fans, Smalls played 38 out of a possible 40 minutes, racking up two steals, seven assists, eight rebounds, and 15 points, leading to the thrilling 70-66 victory over the Lady Lions.
The point guard's talent on the floor is one of the contributing elements for her growing into a natural leader, which has not gone unnoticed by coach Curry.
"She's definitely our quarterback, our little engine that can," Curry said. "On every single play, there's no one that I've coached that gives more effort than Moe does on both ends of the floor. She's really matured a lot in her decision-making, become more vocal. She's just emerging as a great leader for us."
