Feb. 5, 2010

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Game 22 vs. #17/23 Texas • February 7, 2010
Frank Erwin Center (16,775) • Austin, Texas • 1 p.m. • ESPNU

The Game
Texas Tech (13-8/1-5) plays its sixth-straight top 25 team as it takes on No. 19/23 Texas in Austin on Sun., Feb. 7, at 1 p.m. at the Frank Erwin Center. It is the 83rd meeting between the two schools.

On the Air
The game is being nationally televised on ESPNU as Holly Rowe (play-by-play) and Abby Waner (color analyst) call the game. 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 www.texastech.com through RaiderVision All-Access. Live stats are available through gametracker at www.texastech.com.

The Lady Raiders
Texas Tech is 13-8 overall and 1-6 in the Big 12 after falling at No. 22/18 Iowa State, 63-48, on Wednesday. On the year, sophomore Kierra Mallard paces the Lady Raiders in scoring with a 12.6 average followed by senior Jordan Murphree at 12.4 and senior Ashlee Roberson at 12.0. Roberson is the top rebounder, grabbing 8.8 boards per contest and Mallard is averaging 7.1 rebounds. Roberson is shooting 45.4 percent from the field, while freshman Mary Bokenkamp is shooting 40.6 percent from the three-point arc and senior Tilmila Martin is shooting 85.5 percent from the free throw line. Freshman Monique Smalls has a team-high 86 assists. Murphree leads the team in steals with 49. Mallard is the top shot blocker with 47 blocks. Tech is shooting 41.9 percent from the field, 31.4 percent from the three-point range and 66 percent from the charity stripe.

The Opponent
No. 17/23 Texas owns a 15-6 overall record and is 4-3 in the Big 12 upsetting No. 13/13 Oklahoma, 75-57, in Norman on Wednesday. In that game, sophomore Ashleigh Fontenette scored a game-high 21 points and senior Brittainey Raven added 17. Junior Kathleen Nash grabbed nine rebounds and sophomore Ashley Gayle tallied four blocks. Fontenette also tallied four assists. On the year, Raven leads the Longhorns in scoring with a 15.3 average followed by Nash at 12.7. Nash is the top rebounder as she is averaging 7.4 rebounds a game. Fontenette has a team-high 69 assists and Raven leads the team in steals with 30. Gayle is the top shot blocker with 66 blocks. Texas is shooting 43.3 percent from the field, 38 percent from the three-point arc and 69.3 percent from the free throw line.

The Series
Texas Tech and Texas are meeting for the 83rd time in the series with the Longhorns holding a 57-25 advantage over the Lady Raiders. The Longhorns were victorious the first time this year, 95-90, in double overtime on Jan. 16. Tech's last win came last year as it upset then No. 8/12 Texas, 65-62, in Lubbock on Jan. 10. The last time the Lady Raiders won in Austin was on Feb. 26, 2006, in a 58-46 triumph. Tech is 6-26 against the Longhorns in Austin.

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 61-55 at Tech and a career record of 240-106 in 11 years. Gail Goestenkors is in her third year as head coach at Texas with a record of 57-31. She is also in her 18th year as a head coach with a career record of 454-130.

Last Time 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 on Saturday. 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.

The Last Time Out
February 3 - (AP) - Kelsey Bolte scored 19 points, including hitting five 3-pointers, and No. 22 Iowa State beat Texas Tech 63-48. Alison Lacey added 13 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists for the Cyclones, who won for the fifth time in six games. Texas Tech dropped its fifth straight Big 12 Conference game, all to teams ranked in the Top 25. Iowa State, the league's top defensive team, held the Lady Raiders to 32.7 percent shooting and finished with a 39-25 rebounding edge. Nine times this season ISU has held opponents to 50 points or less. The Cyclones trailed 22-21 after Monique Smalls' steal and lay-up with 5:49 to play in the first half. But Tech didn't hit a field goal the rest of the half and watched as Iowa State went into the break on a 14-2 run and broke the game open. Ashlee Roberson led the Lady Raiders with 12 points.

A Look Ahead
Texas Tech returns to the United Spirit Arena to take on Texas A&M on Wed., Feb. 10, at 7 p.m. The Lady Raiders go back on the road for two-consecutive games - at Oklahoma State on Sat., Feb. 13, at 6 p.m. at Baylor on Wed., Feb. 17, at 7 p.m. Tech faces Kansas on Sun., Feb. 21, at 5 p.m. on ESPNU and plays at Kansas State on Wed., Feb. 24, at 7 p.m. on FSNKC. The last two home games will be against Oklahoma State on Sun., Feb. 28, at 12 p.m. on FSN and Wed., March 3, versus Baylor at 7 p.m. Tech wraps up regular-season play at Missouri on Sun., March 7, at 1 p.m.

NCAA Stats
As of games through Jan. 31, sophomore Kierra Mallard ranks 23rd in blocked shots per game at 2.4, senior Tilmila Martin ranks 33rd in free throw percentage at 85.5 and freshman Monique Smalls is 46th in assist/turnover ratio at 1.74, among all NCAA Division I players. As a team, Texas Tech ranks 32nd in steals per game at 10.9, among all NCAA Division I teams.

Top 25 Teams
The Lady Raiders has played seven games against top 25 teams, including three top 10 teams, this year and will play its eighth game against a top 25 team on Sunday at No. 19/23 Texas. It will be the sixth-straight game against a top 25 opponent.

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 1,149 career points, which ranks 17th 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 183 steals in her career, which stands 10th all-time. Standing in ninth is Gwen McCray (1980-83) with 190. 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.

Smalls Snatches Steals
Freshman Monique Smalls tied her career high of six steals at No. 22/18 Iowa State. She also had six steals against Prairie View A&M back in November.

Smalls Ties Career-High Points
Freshman point guard Monique Smalls scored 11 points against then No. 11/12 Oklahoma, which tied her career high. Smalls also had 11 points against North Dakota back in December.

Murphree Has Another 20-Point Game
For the fifth time this season and the second in four games, senior Jordan Murphree had a 20-plus point effort as she poured in 28 points against then No. 11/12 Oklahoma. She was just one point of tying her career high of 29 points, which she had three games earlier against then No. 19/21 Texas.

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.

Second-Straight 20-Point Effort
Senior Ashlee Roberson poured in 22 points at then No. 9/9 Texas A&M. It marked her second-straight game of 20-plus points after scoring 29 against Texas. It was her third game this season to score 20 or more points.

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.

Block Buster II
Sophomore Kierra Mallard tied her career high of six blocks against the Longhorns. She also had six blocks against Texas-Arlington earlier this season.

Four in Double Figures
The Lady Raiders had four starters score in double figures in the win over Colorado led by senior Jordan Murphree with 21 points. Senior Ashlee Roberson and sophomore Kierra Mallard finished with 18 and 16 points, respectively, while senior Tilmila Martin chipped in 11 points.

Doing Double Duty
Senior Ashlee Roberson recorded her sixth double-double of the season with 18 points and 10 rebounds against the Buffaloes. It marked the ninth double-double of her career.

Smalls Grabs Big
Freshman point guard Monique Smalls got her first double-digit rebounding effort as she pulled down a career-high 10 boards against Colorado. Her previous career high was seven against Mercer in December.

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.

Big Day for Brown
Freshman Chynna Brown came off the bench to score a career-high 13 points and grab a career-high four rebounds in just 14 minutes of play against Savannah State. Her previous career high was six points.

Mallard, Roberson Both Get Another Double-Double
For the second time in three games, sophomore Kierra Mallard and senior Ashlee Roberson both recorded double-doubles in a game as they did so at Tulane. Mallard had 15 points and a season-high 13 rebounds, while Roberson finished with 13 points and a career-high 18 rebounds. It was Mallard's fourth double-double of the season and the fifth for Roberson. Both were named to the Tulane DoubleTree Classic All-Tournament Team.

Martin Pours in Career High
Senior Tilmila Martin poured in a career-high 20 points against North Dakota. Martin was a perfect 100 percent from the field (5-5), including 2-2 from the three-point arc, and from the free throw line (8-8).

Fifty Percent from the Field for the Third Time
For the third time this season and the first time since Nov. 22, Texas Tech shot 50 percent or better from the field as it shot 53.1 percent against North Dakota. The Lady Raiders were 26-of-49 from the field against the Fighting Sioux. Tech's season-best field goal percentage was 53.7 versus Sam Houston State in the season opener, while also shooting 50 percent against Arkansas-Pine Bluff (Nov. 22).

Smalls Scores Career High
Freshman Monique Smalls had just her second double-digit scoring effort which resulted in a career-high 11 points against North Dakota. Her previous career high of 10 points came against Texas State on Dec. 2.

Two with Double-Doubles
Senior Ashlee Roberson and sophomore Kierra Mallard both recorded double-doubles in the win over Mercer, marking the first time two Lady Raiders had a double-double in the same game since beating Lamar last year on Nov. 21, 2008. Roberson had 12 points and 12 rebounds, while Mallard finished with 15 points and 12 rebounds.

Murphree Racking Up the Steals
Senior Jordan Murphree tallied a career-high seven steals at UCLA, breaking her old career high of five which she had on three occasions. She currently leads the team in steals with 49, averaging 2.3 per game. The Lady Raiders currently lead all Big 12 schools in steals per game at 10.9.

Mallard Pours in Career High
Sophomore Kierra Mallard poured in a career-high 25 points against Texas State Wednesday night breaking her previous high of 23 points, which she had against Savannah State last season. It was the first time in her career to turn in back-to-back games of 20 or more points as she had 21 against Prairie View A&M in the game prior.

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.

New Faces
Texas Tech has eight new faces in its locker room this year. Five of the eight are currently active - freshmen Marissa Ashton, Chynna Brown, Mary Bokenkamp, Christine Hyde and Monique Smalls. Freshman Shauntal Nobles is redshirting this year after rupturing her Achilles during preseason workouts. Sophomore transfer Casey Morris is sitting out this season due to NCAA transfer rules, and junior transfer Teena Wickett has applied for a wavier to play this season. If the waiver is approved, she will suit up this year, if not, then she will wait to play until the 2010-11 season.

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. Seniors Ashlee Roberson and Tilmila Martin both graduated in December with degrees in human development and family studies.

On the Tube
Texas Tech will have 12 regular-season games televised this season. The Lady Raiders will appear on ESPNU three times, FSN twice, FSN Kansas City (FSNKC) once and the Texas Tech Sports Network (TTSN) six times. Tech will play Tennessee (L, 53-91), at Texas (Feb. 7) and Kansas (Feb. 21) on ESPNU. The Lady Raiders' games on FSN include Texas (L2OT, 90-95) and Oklahoma State (Feb. 28). Tech's game at Kansas State (Feb. 24) will be on FSNKC. The six games on TTSN are 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.