March 2, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format 
Game 29 vs. #3/3 Oklahoma • March 4, 2009
Lloyd Noble Center (12,000) • Norman, Okla. • 7 p.m. • TTTN
The Game
Texas Tech (15-13/5-9) hits the road to take on No. 3/3 Oklahoma (25-3/13-1) in Norman, Okla., on Wed., March 4, at 7 p.m., at the Lloyd Noble Center. The two teams are meeting for the second time this season and the 39th time in the series.
On the Air
The game is being televised on the Texas Tech Television Network, which airs locally in Lubbock on My Lubbock TV, and as Bob Carpenter (play-by-play) and Kenny Mossman (color commentary) call the game. The game can be heard on the radio on the Texas Tech Sports Network as Ryan Hyatt calls 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 15-13 on the year and 5-9 in the Big 12 after losing to No. 25/24 Iowa State, 59-52, last Saturday. On the year, senior Dominic Seals is averaging 13.6 points per game followed by junior Jordan Murphree at 11.0 and freshman Kierra Mallard at 9.8. Mallard is the top rebounder, grabbing 8.1 boards per outing and Seals is averaging 8.0 rebounds. Seals is shooting 44.5 percent from the field and junior Maddy Brown has a team-high 34.3 percent from the three-point line. Junior Tilmila Martin is shooting a team-best 85.1 percent from the free throw line. Senior Maria Moore has a team-high 88 assists, while Seals is the top shot blocker with 35 blocks. Murphree leads the team in steals with 45. The Lady Raiders are shooting 39 percent from the field, 30.1 percent from three-point range and 70.7 percent from the charity stripe.
Scouting the Opponent
No. 3/3 Oklahoma clinched a share of the Big 12 title last Saturday as it defeated Oklahoma State, 73-63, in Norman. In that game, senior Courtney Paris recorded game highs of 25 points and 16 rebounds, while sophomore Jenny Vining had 15 points and junior Nyeshia Stevenson added 13 points. Senior Ashley Paris collected 11 rebounds and five assists and junior Amanda Thompson had four blocks. On the year, Courtney Paris paces the Sooners in scoring with a 16.3 average followed by Ashley Paris at 13.0 and sophomore Danielle Robinson at 12.7. Courtney Paris is the top rebounder, averaging 13.9 rebounds per contest. Robinson has team highs of 167 assists and 62 blocks, while Courtney Paris is the top shot blocker with 68 blocks. OU is shooting 48.6 percent from the field, 34.7 percent from the three-point arc and 67.2 percent from the free throw line.
The Coaches
Texas Tech head coach Kristy Curry is in her third season at the helm of the Lady Raiders. Curry has compiled a record of 47-45 at Tech and a career record of 226-96 in her 10th year. Sherri Coale is in her 13th year as head coach of the Sooners with a career record of 279-130.
Series Record
Texas Tech and Oklahoma are meeting for the 39th time in the series with the Lady Raiders holding a 21-17 advantage over the Sooners. OU has won the last seven games, including the first one this year, 80-72, in Lubbock on Feb. 17. Tech's last win came in Norman on Feb. 23, 2005, in an 83-70 triumph. The Lady Raiders were also victorious that same year in Lubbock, 70-64, on Jan. 5. Tech is 9-96 against OU in Lubbock.
Last Time vs. Oklahoma ~ Feb. 17, 2009
(AP) - Sherri Coale believes a big comeback two months ago continues to help her No. 2 Oklahoma team continue to roll. The Sooners rallied from nine points down Tuesday night to beat Texas Tech 80-72 and remain undefeated in Big 12 play. In mid-December Oklahoma trailed by 26 in the second half against then-No. 9 California and ended up winning. Courtney Paris scored 23 points and grabbed 20 rebounds, marking the 11th time in her career she's gotten over 20 points and rebounds in a game. The Sooners trailed 63-54 with 8:08 left before going on a 16-2 run over the next 4 1/2 minutes to take a 70-65 lead with 3:51 left. They held on for the victory marking the best record in school history through 25 games. Ashley Paris added 16 points and 13 rebounds for the Sooners, whose winning streak matches the best in program history set during the 2006 season. Jordan Murphree scored a career-high 25 points for the Lady Raiders. Oklahoma trailed by four at the half before Texas Tech opened up its nine-point lead. Murphree scored seven straight points, including a 3-pointer, that gave the Lady Raiders their 63-54 advantage. The Sooners rallied behind the Paris sisters. They combined for 12 points during the decisive spurt, including going 6-for-6 from the free throw line. Ashley Paris' free throw with 5 minutes left gave Oklahoma a 66-65 advantage -- its first lead since midway through the first half.
Texas Tech was able to get within four points twice in the final 1:33, but Oklahoma made all six of its free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.
Last Time Out
(AP) - Amanda Nisleit scored a career-high 19 points to lead No. 25 Iowa State to a 59-52 win over Texas Tech on Saturday night.
Heather Ezell added 16 points, including three 3-pointers for the Cyclones (21-7, 9-5 Big 12).
Iowa State held a 22-16 halftime lead, but Texas Tech scored the first seven points of the second half to take a one-point advantage.
The Cyclones answered with a 10-2 spurt to go up 32-25 with 13:55 left and then expanded the lead to 18 over the next 7 minutes.
The Lady Raiders closed to 55-46, but Iowa State hit its free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.
Dominic Seals had 16 points and 11 rebounds to lead Texas Tech (15-13, 5-9).
A Look Ahead
The Lady Raiders finish regular-season play at home on Sat., March 7, against Missouri at 2 p.m. The game will be on the Texas Tech Television Network. The Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship will be held March 12-15, at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City, Okla.
Change in Lineup
Head coach Kristy Curry has used 11 different lineups in 28 games this season. One lineup has been used in 14 games - Ashlee Roberson (F), Dominic Seals (F) Kierra Mallard (C), Maria Moore (G) and Jordan Murphree (G). Tech is 6-8 with this lineup.
First Top 10 Win in Curry Era
Texas Tech got its first win over a top 10 team in the Kristy Curry era as the Lady Raiders upset then No. 8/12 Texas, 65-62, in its Big 12 opener. It was the first time Tech had beaten a top 10 since beating No. 5 Baylor, 64-62, on Feb. 15, 2006, in Lubbock. Tech then got another top 10 win as it defeated then No. 12/8 Texas A&M, 60-53, on Feb. 11, in Lubbock, snapping a six-game losing streak against the Aggies.
Tech vs. the Top 25
Texas Tech is 2-8 against teams ranked in the top 25. The Lady Raiders suffered their first loss to a ranked opponent as they fell to then No. 3/3 California, 68-54, on Nov. 28, in St. Thomas. Tech got its first top 25 win of the season on Jan. 10, with a 65-62 triumph over Texas in Lubbock before losing at then No. 8/6 Texas A&M, 67-56, on Jan. 13. The Lady Raiders then lost at home to then No. 18/15 Kansas State, 60-48, on Jan. 21, and then No. 5/4 Baylor, 76-64, on Jan. 24, before losing at then No. 16/18 Texas, 77-46, on Feb. 8. Tech got its second top 25 win in a 60-53 triumph over then No. 12/8 Texas A&M on Feb. 11, in Lubbock. The Lady Raiders lost a heartbreaker to then No. 2/2 Oklahoma, 80-72, in Lubbock on Feb. 17. Tech then lost at then No. 6/7 Baylor, 83-53, on Feb. 25. Tech fell to then No. 25/24 Iowa State, 59-52, on Feb. 28, in Lubbock.
Double Duty
Senior Dominic Seals turned in her 11th double-double performance of the year and the 20th of her career at Tech as she had 16 points and 11 rebounds against Iowa State. She also hit her first career three-pointer. Seals has scored in double figures in 23 games this season and had double-digit rebounds 11 times.
Martin Contributes Off Bench
Junior Tilmila Martin came off the bench and scored 11 points in 13 minutes of play for her fifth double-figure scoring game of the season.
Poor Shooting Nights
In their two losses last week, the Lady Raiders shot only 27.5 percent from the field at No. 6/7 Baylor and 27.6 percent against No. 25/24 Iowa State. Those two percentages were the second and third-lowest shooting percentages of the season. Its lowest shooting percentage of the season was 25 percent (15-60) versus Iowa on Nov. 27, in the Paradise Jam tournament.
Season High From the Stripe
The Lady Raiders shot a season-high 91.3 percent from the free throw line at No. 6/7 Baylor last Wednesday. Tech hit 18-straight free throws before missing their first shot. Tech finished the game 21-of-23 from the charity stripe as freshman Kierra Mallard was a perfect 10-for-10.
Mighty Mallard
Freshman Kierra Mallard had her 14th game of the year of double-figure scoring as she had 18 points at No. 6/7 Baylor. All but two of her double-digit outputs have come in the last 19 games. For the first nine games of the season, Mallard was averaging 7.1 points, and in the last 18 contests she has upped that average to 11.1 points per game. She has also increased her rebound average as well, grabbing 5.4 boards to start the season compared to 9.4 rebounds in the last 19 games.
Mallard Receives Second Big 12 Freshman of the Week Honor
Freshman Kierra Mallard was named the Phillips 66 Big 12 Freshman of the Week after she averaged 6.0 points and 8.5 rebounds in Texas Tech's games against No. 2 Oklahoma and at Oklahoma State the week of Feb. 16-22. The Dallas, Texas, native scored five points, grabbed six rebounds, dished out a career-high three assists and added a steal in Tech's eight point loss to OU. In the win at Oklahoma State, Mallard had seven points, 11 rebounds and a block. Mallard also was named the Big 12 Freshman of the Week on Jan. 5 for her performances against UCLA and Arkansas.
Murphree Has Back-to-Back 20-Point Games
For the first time in her career, junior Jordan Murphree turned in back-to-back 20-plus scoring games. In the 80-72 loss to No. 2 Oklahoma, Murphree poured in a career-high 25 points, and then scored 20 points in the win at Oklahoma State. Her previous career high was 22 points, which she scored against Arkansas in January. Murphree has scored in double figures in five of the last seven games.
Tenth Double-Double for Seals
Senior Dominic Seals recorded her 10th double-double of the season as she tied her season-high 22 points and grabbed 13 rebounds at Oklahoma State.
Charity Shots
The Lady Raiders attempted a season-high 38 free throws at Oklahoma State, connecting on 27 of those shots for 71.1 percent. Senior Dominic Seals had 16 of those attempts, marking the first time a Lady Raider had attempted 15 or more free throws in a game since Plenette Pierson attempted 15 against Missouri on Jan. 28, 2003.
Seals Back in Double Digits
Senior Dominic Seals scored 17 points versus the Sooners for her 21st game of double-figure scoring. She just missed another double-double with nine rebounds.
Moore Comes Back
After injuring her left knee against Texas A&M on Feb. 11 and only playing three minutes at Nebraska on Feb. 14, senior point guard Maria Moore returned to the starting lineup against Oklahoma and at Oklahoma State and had back-to-back games of double-figure scoring as she had 13 and 11 points, respectively, against OU and OSU.
Cleaning the Glass
Junior Ashlee Roberson collected 11 rebounds versus Oklahoma, marking her third double-digit rebound game of the season. She grabbed a career-high 14 against Oklahoma State earlier this year and had 13 versus Arkansas in January. And then freshman Kierra Mallard had her seventh double-digit rebounding game as she collected 11 boards at Oklahoma State. Six of those 10-plus rebounding games have come during Big 12 play.
Hitting the 3
Junior Jordan Murphree hit a career-high four three-pointers in Tech's loss at Nebraska. Her previous career high was three on three occasions in her career.
Big Minutes for Tiny
Senior Tiny Henderson got 34 minutes of playing time at Nebraska, which matched her season high in minutes as she also played 34 minutes against Washington in November. Henderson scored 10 points, tied her season-high six rebounds and tallied a season-high three steals against the Huskers. Her 10 points were just the second time this season she had scored in double figures. She scored a season-high 11 points versus South Florida in the Paradise Jam back in November.
Balanced Attack
For the fourth time this season and the first time in Big 12 play, the Lady Raiders had five players score in double figures in their win over No. 12/8 Texas A&M on Feb. 11. Freshman Kierra Mallard led the way with 15 points, while juniors Jordan Murphree and Tilmila Martin both finished with 12 points. Seniors Dominic Seals and Maria Moore had 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Three Post Double-Doubles
Texas Tech had three players post double-doubles in the loss to Oklahoma State. Senior Dominic Seals finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds, while freshman Kierra Mallard had 16 points and 14 rebounds, and junior Ashlee Roberson had 12 points and a career-high 14 rebounds. It marked Seals' eighth double-double of the season and 17th of her career, while it was the third of Mallard's career. Roberson picked up her first double-double of the season and third of her career.
On the Tube
Texas Tech has 12 regular-season games televised this season. The Lady Raiders will appear on FSN twice, FSN Rocky Mountain (FSNRM) and Mountain West Sports Network (MWSN) once each and the Texas Tech Television Network (TTTN) seven times. Tech played at New Mexico (L, 54-63) on MWSN. The Lady Raiders hosted Baylor (L, 64-76) and played at Nebraska (L, 56-62) both on FSN. Tech was on FSNRM at Colorado (W, 66-60). Tech's seven games on the TTTN include UNLV (W, 75-63), UCLA (W, 72-62), Kansas State (L, 60-48), Oklahoma (L, 72-80), Iowa State (L, 52-59) at Oklahoma (Mar. 4) and Missouri (Mar. 7). The game on Jan. 3, against Arkansas will be televised by Arkansas on the Cox Sports Television.
Follow the Lady Raiders
All Lady Raider basketball games can be heard live on the Texas Tech Sports Network on KFYO-AM 790 and KKCL-FM 98.1 locally. Listen to play-by-play by Ryan Hyatt as he takes the court with the Lady Raiders. The following radio stations will air the Lady Raider basketball games this season:
Haskell/Abilene - KVRP-FM (97.1)
Hereford - KPAN-AM/FM (860/106.3)
Lamesa - KPET-AM (690)
Lubbock - KFYO-AM/KKCL-FM (790/98.1)
Plainview - KVOP-AM (1090)
