Feb. 1, 2012

No. 18/16 Texas A&M Aggies (14-5, 5-3) at No. 25 Texas Tech Lady Raiders (15-5, 3-5)

When: 7 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012

Where: United Spirit Arena (15,098) Lubbock, Texas

TV: Texas Tech Sports Network / MyLubbockTV (KMYL) Suddenlink Ch. 6/106 (Lubbock)

Play-by-Play: David Thetford / Analyst: Marsha Sharp

Radio: Texas Tech Sports Network 97.3 FM (Lubbock)

Play-by-Play: Steve Strain / Analyst: Crystal Boles

TEXAS TECH - TEXAS A&M SERIES

This will be the 72nd meeting between the two programs, dating back to Feb. 13, 1976. Texas Tech holds a 54-16 advantage all-time in the series. Texas A&M has won the previous two meetings and 9 of the last 12 since 2006. Tech is 28-4 at home all-time against the Aggies, winning 2 of the last 3 at home since 2009. 

TEXAS TECH LADY RAIDERS (15-5, 3-5 BIG 12)

Coach: Kristy Curry

Overall: 282-129 (13)

at Tech: 103-78 (6)

vs. A&M: 2-8

NO.          NAME                                        HT            P               YR            STATS

23            Monique Smalls                                   5-6           G               JR          8.6 pts/game

15            Casey Morris                        5-9           G               JR          9.2 pts/game

  5             Christine Hyde                    5-10        G               JR          9.0 pts/game

  1             Jordan Barncastle            6-2           F                SR         4.9 pts/game

33            Shauntal Nobles                6-3           F                SO         6.4 pts/game

TEXAS A&M AGGIES (14-5, 5-3 BIG 12)

Coach: Gary Blair

Overall: 609-247 (27)

at A&M: 201-84 (9)

vs. Tech: 9-2

NO.          NAME                                        HT            P               YR               STATS

10            Alexia Standish                                    5-8           G               FR           3.6 pts/game

  4             Sydney Carter                      5-6           G               SR         11.6 pts/game

20            Tyra White                             6-0           G               SR         14.4 pts/game

21            Adaora Elonu                       6-1           F                SR         12.3 pts/game

  3             Kelsey Bone                          6-4           C               JR          11.8 pts/game

REMEMBERING Judith Smith

On January 26, 2012, the Texas Tech women's basketball program lost a member of its family when former Lady Raider Judith Smith passed away at the age of 25. Smith played at Texas Tech from 2004-06 for Hall of Fame head coach Marsha Sharp, and played in 27 games as a freshman, averaging five points per game with a season-high 14 against Baylor. In her final season in 2005-06, Smith averaged 3.7 points per game in 15 games.

GETTING STARTED

Texas Tech became confortable with its starting lineup after just the first two games of the season. Sophomore Shauntal Nobles started the first two games against New Mexico and at Houston before sophomore Kelsi Baker slid into that role and remains there after 16 starts. Nobles has not disappeared, receiving valuable minutes off the bench.

STARTS THIS SEASON: Monique Smalls (20), Christine Hyde (20), Casey Morris (20), Kierra Mallard (18), Kelsi Baker (17), Shauntal Nobles (3), Jordan Barncastle (1).

BARNCASTLE STARTS FIRST GAME IN 2012

Texas Tech senior forward Jordan Barncastle started her first game this season, scoring 19 points with 10 rebounds. It was her first double-double since Nov. 21, 2008 against Lamar - her third game and first career start at Tech. She started her first game since Jan. 22, 2011 (at Baylor). Saturday was her first-ever start at home against Texas.

LAST TIME OUT

NO. 21 TEXAS TECH 75, TEXAS 71

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) - Jordan Barncastle scored 19 points, including a key three-point play with 24 seconds left, to help No. 21 Texas Tech end a five-game skid with a 75-71 victory over Texas on Saturday.

Texas led for just the second time in the game after free throws by Ashleigh Fontenette made it 71-70 with 48 seconds to play. Barncastle's offensive rebound and put back moments later gave the Lady Raiders the lead again, and a corner three by Texas' Chassidy Fussell bounced off the side of the backboard with 9 seconds left.

Texas Tech (15-5, 3-5 Big 12 Conference) avoided a six-game conference losing streak for the third consecutive year. The Lady Raiders were ranked as high as No. 10 after a 14-0 start.

LOSING STREAKS SNAPPED

Texas Tech ended a five-game losing streak this season and five-game losing streak to Texas with a 75-71 win over the Longhorns on Saturday.

MALLARD MISSES FIRST START

Senior forward Kierra Mallard was left out of the starting lineup with an undisclosed injury for the first time this season and first time since Jan. 20, 2010 when she did not start against California.

NOBLES DOUBLE-DOUBLE

Texas Tech sophomore forward Shauntal Nobles started her fourth game of the season and second consecutive in place of Kierra Mallard. She scored 11 points and had 10 rebounds for her second double-double of the season. She had 10 points and 12 rebounds against Texas State on Nov. 30.

HOMECOURT ADVANTAGE

Texas Tech's crowd of 10,411 packed the United Spirit Arena on Saturday for the arena's second-largest crowd of the season. There were 12,403 at last week's game against No. 1 Baylor. Tech is averaging 7,646 fans per game at United Spirit Arena (12 games) which is 3rd in the Big 12 Conference and 8th nationally.

SWIPING CLEAN

Texas Tech leads the Big 12 Conference and is No. 24 nationally with 11.9 steals per game this season. The Lady Raiders have 18 or more steals against four opponents this season (UTA, Texas State, UMKC and New Mexico).

MARGIN OF VICTORY

Texas Tech is second in the Big 12 Conference in scoring margin (13.7) and 19th overall in the country. The Lady Raiders are also fourth in conference in scoring with 73.2 points per game - 27th nationally.

OFF THE BOARDS

The Lady Raiders are second the Big 12 Conference in offensive rebounds with 17.4 per game and are third in the conference in rebounding offense (43.7%) and fourth in rebounding defense (35.3%). They are also second in the conference in rebounding margin (+8.4) which is also 17th-best among all NCAA Division I teams.

NATIONAL LEADER

Texas Tech junior guard Monique Smalls had eight assists and only one turnover in Saturday's win over Texas. Smalls currently leads all NCAA women's basketball players with a 3.37 assist-to-turnover ratio. She has 91 turnovers and only 27 turnovers through 20 games this season.