Texas Tech University Athletics
Lady Raiders Close Non-Conference Slate With Arkansas-Pine Bluff
December 19, 2015 | Women's Basketball
Ivonne CookTaylor (15.5 ppg) leads the Lady Raiders in scoring heading into their matchup with Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Sunday.
Dec. 19, 2015
LUBBOCK, Texas -- The Texas Tech Lady Raiders will look for their eighth-straight home win on Sunday, Dec. 20, against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Tipoff at United Supermarkets Arena is set for 2 p.m.Everything you need to know on tonight's 70-55 win over Grambling State is here: https://t.co/hWWHLsND0D #WreckEm pic.twitter.com/Qg0FZZNgvb
-- Lady Raider WBB (@LadyRaiderWBB) December 19, 2015
The game will also be carried on the Texas Tech Sports Network on 107.7 FM, and 950 AM in Lubbock with Ryan Hyatt and Chuck Heinz on the call. The radio broadcast also will be available online at www.TexasTech.com and the TuneIn Radio app.
Texas Tech (8-2) is coming off a 70-55 win over Grambling State. Japreece Dean led the way with 20 points, and Leashja Grant had her second-straight 18-point game. This game will mark the end of the non-conference slate for the Lady Raiders. Big 12 play begins on Dec. 30 for the Lady Raiders, when they will take on TCU.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff is off to a 3-6 start this season, having already played road games against four power-5 teams (0-4). Niya Head leads the team in points (13.2) and rebounds (7.8).
Visit www.TexasTech.com for the latest news and information on the women's basketball program. Fans also can follow the program on its social media outlets at www.Facebook.com/LadyRaiderWBB and @LadyRaiderWBB on Twitter.
| Keep Up with The Lady Raiders | |
|---|---|
| Opponent | Arkansas Pine-Bluff |
| Date/Time | Dec. 20, 2 p.m. |
| TV | FOX Sports Southwest + |
| Radio | 107.7 FM or 950 AM |
| Live Stats | Stat Broadcast |
| Twitter Updates | @LadyRaiderWBB |
TOP GAMEDAY STORYLINES
- Texas Tech is looking to improve to 8-0 at home in 2015-16.
- This is the final game of the Lady Raiders' non-conference schedule.
- This will be the third meeting between Tech Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Tech leads the series, 2-0.
- The Golden Lions have gotten off to a 3-6 start and are led in points (13.2) and rebounds (7.8) by Niya Head.
- Tech has four players averaging at least 11 points per game.
- The Lady Raiders are coming off a 70-55 win over Grambling State, led by 20 points from Japreece Dean.
LABELING THE LIONS
Arkansas-Pine Bluff is off to a 3-6 start this season, having already played road games against four power-5 teams (0-4). Niya Head leads the team in points (13.2) and rebounds (7.8).
THAT 70'S SHOW
The 70-point mark seems to be the magic number for the Lady Raiders in regards to opponent scoring. Tech is 8-0 when holding opponents under 70 points this season.
START ME UP
A big portion of Tech's success has come from early runs to start games. On four different occasions this year the Lady Raiders have started a game on a run of 6-0 or better, including a 16-0 run to start the season against Niagara.
FANTASTIC FOUR
Balanced scoring has been the name of the game for Tech this season. Four Lady Raiders are averaging at least 11 points per game, there have been five different leading scorers in seven games and five different Lady Raiders have scored 20 points in a game this season.
HELLO FROM THE OUTSIDE
Texas Tech has two of the conference's top 10 three-point shooters by percentage, Ryann Bowser (.480) and Rayven Brooks (.407).
GRAB THE WINDEX
Texas Tech ranks 29th nationally in rebounds per game (44.6) and 41st in rebound margin (+8.8). The Lady Raiders also rank second in the Big 12 in offensive boards per game (16.3).
SECOND CHANCE
Texas Tech is averaging 16.3 offensive rebounds per game, which ranks second in the Big 12 and 40th in the NCAA. Two Lady Raiders (Leashja Grant & Zuri Sanders) are averaging more than three offensive boards per game.
NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP
Rayven Brooks ranks fourth in the Big 12 with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.29.
CAN'T HOLD US
Texas Tech ranks 39th nationally in scoring margin, defeating opponents by an average of 16.8 points per game.
THAT'S SO RAYVEN
Texas Tech senior Rayven Brooks is currently second on the team in scoring, averaging 13.3 points per game. Between the Idaho State game and the South Point Shootout two weeks ago, she averaged 15 points, including a career high-matching 26 points against Washington, on just 12 shots. She was named to the All-Tournament Team for her efforts.
NEW KID ON THE BLOCK
Even though she has only played nine games in a Lady Raider uniform, Leashja Grant has already made a huge impact. She ranks 12th nationally in field goal percentage (61.3%) and has scored 18 points in the last two games.
YOUTH OF THE NATION
Even with the veterans Tech has on the roster, youth will be served for the Lady Raiders as freshmen Japreece Dean and Zuri Sanders figure to play significant roles. Sanders and Dean are combining to average 15.1 points and 9.8 rebounds per game this season.
MID-SEASON DEBUT
Brielle Blaire made her debut for the Lady Raiders on Dec. 12, against Santa Clara. The Virginia Tech transfer made an immediate impact, scoring 10 points, grabbing six rebounds and recording three steals. She made her first start as a Lady Raider against Incarnate Word on Dec. 14.
NO QUARTER
Of the new rules NCAA women's basketball is transitioning to for starting with this season, the most noticeable is that the game format has moved from two halves, to four quarters, creating more exciting end-of-clock situations, among other changes.
COMING HOME
The Lady Raiders feature eight players on the current roster who began their Texas Tech career as a transfer. Five of those players are newcomers. Two of them, Brielle Blaire (Virginia Tech) and Leashja Grant (TVCC) will be eligible during the 2015-16 season, while the other three, highly touted transfers Recee' Caldwell (UCLA), Larryn Brooks (Indiana) and Jada Terry (Texas A&M) will not be eligible until the 2016-17 season.
UNDER PRESSURE
Texas Tech is shooting 64.4% from the line this season, but in clutch situations, the Lady Raiders have been better than their average would suggest. In clutch situations (when the scoring margin is under 10 points, with less than three minutes to go), Tech is shooting 12-17 (70.5%), 6% better than the overall team average.
Players Mentioned
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