Nov. 30, 2008

Complete Release in PDF Format

Games 8 vs. UNLV • December 2, 2008
United Spirt Arena (15,050) • Lubbock, Texas • 7 p.m.

The Game
Texas Tech (4-3) returns to the United Spirit Arena on Tues., Dec. 2, as it hosts UNLV (4-1) at 7 p.m. It is the fourth meeting between the two schools.

On the Air
The game is being televised on the Texas Tech Television Network as Drew Dougherty (play-by-play) and Crystal Boles (color commentator) call the game. The game can also be heard on the radio on the Texas Tech Sports Network as Ryan Hyatt and Stephanie Gerber call the game. The game can also be heard on the internet at www.texastech.com through RaiderVision All-Access. Live streaming is also available through RaiderVision All-Access and live stats are available through gametracker at www.texastech.com.

The Lady Raiders
Texas Tech is 4-3 on the year after losing its last game to South Florida, 71-61, on Saturday in the Paradise Jam in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. On the year, senior Dominic Seals is averaging 13.3 points per game followed by freshman Jordan Barncastle at 8.3. Seals is the top rebounder, grabbing 7.7 boards per outing and Barncastle is averaging 6.6 rebounds. Barncastle is shooting a team-high of 50 percent from the field and senior Maria Moore has a team-best 38.9 percent from the three-point line. Junior Tilmila Martin is shooting 88.9 percent from the free throw line. Moore has a team-high 24 assists, while Seals is the top shot blocker with 10 blocks. Freshman Kierra Mallard leads the team in steals with nine. The Lady Raiders are shooting 39.6 percent from the field, 30 percent from three-point range and 66.5 percent from the charity stripe.

Scouting the Opponent
UNLV is 4-1 on the year after beating Cal State Fullerton, 76-65, on Saturday. In that game, senior Shamela Hampton had game highs of 24 points and 13 rebounds, while sophomores Erica Helms and India Chaney scored 15 and 10 points, respectively. Helms collected six assists and Hampton tallied five steals. Freshman Jamie Smith added two blocks. On the year, Hampton leads the team in scoring with a 19.6 average followed by Helms at 13.2. Hampton is the top rebounder, averaging 10.4 rebounds per contest. Helms has a team-high 19 assists and Hampton leads the team in steals with 11. Smith is the top shot blocker with seven blocks. UNLV is shooting 42.5 percent from the field, 37.5 percent from the three-point line and 64.9 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 36-35 at Tech and a career record of 215-86 in her 10th year. Kathy Olivier is in her first year at UNLV with a record of 4-1. She is also in her 16th year as a head coach with a career record of 236-209.

Series Record
Texas Tech holds a 2-1 advantage over UNLV after winning last year's game, 79-64, in Las Vegas. The Rebels won the contest prior to last season, 70-65, on March 13, 1991, in Las Vegas in the first round of the NCAA Championship. The Lady Raiders were victorious in the first meeting, 63-59, Dec. 31, 1983, in Las Vegas. This is the first time the two schools have played in Lubbock.

Last Time Out
Four players led Texas Tech with double-digit figures in scoring and the Lady Raider bench totaled 17 points, but it wasn't enough to stave off a late second-half rally by South Florida as the Bulls took a 71-61 win over Tech in the final game of the Paradise Jam tournament at St. Thomas, Virgin Islands.

Texas Tech led South Florida 54-50 with 8:08 to play in the second half, before the Bulls out-scored the Lady Raiders 21-7 down the stretch for the win. South Florida led 31-29 at the half and both teams switched leads early on in the second as Tech topped off with its biggest lead of the game at four points.

Keisha Walker led the Lady Raiders with 15 points off the bench, while Dominic Seals added 11 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Ashlee Roberson and Tiny Henderson chipped in 14 and 11 points, respectively, as Roberson also added six boards. Henderson was perfect from three-point range on three attempts.

Shantia Grace led South Florida with 15 points and added seven rebounds, while Porche Grant grabbed eight boards.

A Look Ahead
Texas Tech will have 11 days off for finals before playing at New Mexico on Sat., Dec. 13, at 7 p.m. CST. The game will be televised on the Mountain West Sports Network. Tech returns home for two games prior to Christmas with contests against Prairie View A&M on Thurs., Dec. 18, at 7 p.m., and versus Sacramento State on Sat., Dec. 20, at 7 p.m. The Lady Raiders face UCLA on Mon., Dec. 29, at 7 p.m., on the Texas Tech Television Network in their final game of 2008. Tech opens 2009 with a game against Arkansas on Sat., Jan. 3, at 2 p.m. in Lubbock.

Season Highs
While playing in the Paradise Jam, Texas Tech recorded season highs in three-point field goal percentage (54.5 vs. USF) and free throw percentage (81.0 vs. California). The Lady Raiders also tied their season highs in rebounds (43 vs. Iowa) and blocked shots (4 vs. Iowa, California).

Seals Continues Double-Figure Scoring
Senior Dominic Seals continues her double-figure scoring streak. She has scored 10 or more points in all seven games this season.

Four in Double Digits Against USF
Texas Tech had four players score in double figures in its last game. Senior Keisha Walker scored a season-high 15 points, while junior Ashlee Roberson and senior Tiny Henderson had season highs of 14 and 11 points, respectively. Senior Dominic Seals also added 11 points.

Another Double-Double for Seals
Senior Dominic Seals collected her second double-double of the year with 11 points and a season-high 13 rebounds against the Bulls.

Hitting the Three
Senior Tiny Henderson sank a career-high three three-pointers against South Florida. Her previous career high was two, which happened twice in her career.

Block Buster
Senior Dominic Seals tied her career high of four blocks versus No. 3 California. It was the second time in her career to get four block as the first time was against Texas in the Big 12 Championship in March.

Mallard Grabs Career High
Freshman Kierra Mallard grabbed a career-high nine rebounds against Iowa in the first game of the Paradise Jam. Mallard's previous career high was eight against Idaho in the season opener.

Change in Lineup
Head coach Kristy Curry has used six different lineups in the seven games this season. The last two games have been the same starting five Jordan Barncastle (F), Ashlee Roberson (F), Dominic Seals (F), Maria Moore (G) and Tiny Henderson (G). Henderson is the only player to start all seven contests.

Four Score Double Figures Against UTA
Against UTA, senior Dominic Seals led Tech with 15 points, while junior Tilmila Martin, senior Maria Moore and junior Maddy Brown all chipped in 10 points each.

Made of Steal
Junior Tilmila Martin tallied a career-high six steals against the Mavericks, while senior Dominic Seals tied her career high of three steals and junior Ashlee Roberson got a career-high three steals.

Season High Numbers for Tiny
Senior Tiny Henderson collected season highs of six rebounds and six assists in the win over UTA.

Double-Doubles Spark Win Over Lamar
Freshman Jordan Barncastle had her second-straight double-double as she mirrored her game against Washington State tying her career highs of 14 points and 13 rebounds against Lamar. Senior Dominic Seals finished the game with her first double-double of the season, and the 10th of her career, with 12 points and a season-high 10 rebounds.

More Career Highs for Freshmen
The more games played, the more the freshmen set career highs in their first year at Tech. Jordan Barncastle dished out a career-high four assists, while Kierra Mallard had a career-best two blocks versus the Lady Cardinals. Barncastle also hit her first career three-pointer at Tech against Lamar.

Barncastle Records Double-Double in Win Over Cougars
Freshman Jordan Barncastle recorded her first career double-double with career highs of 14 points and 13 rebounds in Tech's win over Washington State.

Career High for Martin and Mallard
Junior Tilmila Martin came off the bench and scored a career-high 14 points against the Cougars in 25 minutes of action, while freshman Kierra Mallard tallied a career-high four steals.

Seals' First 20-Point Output
Senior Dominic Seals poured in 21 points versus Washington State, marking her first 20-point output of the season. Last year, Seals scored 20 or more points eight times with a career high of 27 points against Texas on Jan. 20, 2008.

Five in Double Digits in Season Opener
Texas Tech had five players score in double digits in its season opener against Idaho. Junior Maddy Brown led the way with 18 points followed by freshman Kierra Mallard with 16, junior Dominic Seals with 14 and junior Jordan Murphree and freshman Jordan Barncastle with 13 apiece.

Brown Has Career High at Tech
Junior Maddy Brown's 18 points against Idaho were a career high for her at Tech. Brown, who played her freshman year at Pittsburgh, scored 21 points against Duquesne on Nov. 30, 2005 for the Panthers. Brown also tied her career high of five three-pointers against the Vandals.

Did You Feel It?
Tech's three newcomers made their presence felt in their first collegiate game against Idaho. Freshman Kierra Mallard had 16 points and eight rebounds, while fellow freshman Jordan Barncastle finished with 13 points and eight boards. Junior Tilmila Martin chipped in seven points and five rebounds in the victory.

Keeping Control
Texas Tech committed just nine turnovers versus Idaho. It marked the first time the Lady Raiders had less than 10 turnovers since committing nine turnovers against Iowa State on March 1, 2007.

Fifty Percent
The Lady Raiders shot over 50 percent in their first outing of the season. Tech shot 53.2 percent from the field against the Vandals, connecting on 33-of-62 shots. Tech shot 50 percent or better on four occasions last season.

New Faces
The Lady Raiders have five new additions to this year's roster. Sophomore Kaylan Talley redshirted last year after suffering a torn ACL during the 2007 summer. Tech welcomed four new faces to campus this year in junior Tilmila Martin and freshmen Jordan Barncastle, Lindie Kimbro and Kierra Mallard. Kimbro is redshirting the 2008-09 season.

Class Breakdown
This year's teams consists of five seniors - Tiny Henderson, Maria Moore, Alana Rumph, Dominic Seals and Keisha Walker; four juniors - Maddy Brown, Tilmila Martin, Jordan Murphree and Ashlee Roberson; one sophomore - Kaylan Talley; and three freshmen - Jordan Barncastle, Lindie Kimbro and Kierra Mallard.

Across the Nation
The 13 Lady Raiders hail from four states across the country with 10 coming from the state of Texas. Junior Maddy Brown is from the furthest east, hailing from Honeoye Falls, N.Y., while senior Maria Moore is from the furthest west coming from Sparks, Nev. And senior Keisha Walker calls Kansas City, Mo., home.

Degree in Hand
Senior Tiny Henderson graduated in August 2008 with a degree in exercise and sports science. Henderson is currently working on a master's degree in sports management.

On the Tube
Texas Tech will have 11 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 will play at New Mexico (Dec. 13) on MWSN. The Lady Raiders host Baylor (Jan. 24) and play at Nebraska (Feb. 14) both on FSN. Tech's seven games on the TTTN include UNLV (Dec. 2), UCLA (Dec. 29), Kansas State (Jan. 21), Oklahoma (Feb. 17), Iowa State (Feb. 28) at Oklahoma (Mar. 4) and Missouri (Mar. 7).

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)

Lady Raider Basketball with Kristy Curry
Kristy Curry's weekly television show, Lady Raider Basketball with Kristy Curry, will be televised every Sunday starting Jan. 4. 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 will be held each Monday starting Jan. 5 from 6-7 p.m. The show will air on KFYO-AM 790 locally. The show will be held at Dion's located at 2721 82nd Street. There will not be a show on Mon., Feb. 2, but rather on Tues., Feb. 3, as the Lady Raiders have a home game on Feb. 2.