Women's Basketball Faces Sacramento State
December 19, 2008 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 19, 2008
Complete Release in PDF Format 
Game 11 vs. Sacramento State • December 20, 2008
United Spirit Arena (15,050) • Lubbock, Texas • 7 p.m.
The Game
Texas Tech (6-4) plays its last game before the Christmas break as it hosts Sacramento State (2-7) on Sat., Dec. 20, at 7 p.m. at the United Spirit Arena. It is the third meeting between the two schools.
On the Air
The game can be heard on the radio on the Texas Tech Sports Network as Ryan Hyatt and Crystal Boles 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 6-4 on the year after beating Prairie View A&M, 72-55, on Thursday in Lubbock. On the year, senior Dominic Seals is averaging 13.4 points per game followed by junior Jordan Murphree at 10.3. Seals is the top rebounder, grabbing 7.9 boards per outing and freshman Jordan Barncastle is averaging 5.9 rebounds. Barncastle is shooting a team-high of 48.8 percent from the field and senior Maria Moore has a team-best 36.4 percent from the three-point line. Junior Tilmila Martin is shooting 91.7 percent from the free throw line. Moore has a team-high 36 assists, while Seals is the top shot blocker with 13 blocks. Seals and Moore both have a team-high 12 steals. The Lady Raiders are shooting 38.9 percent from the field, 30.5 percent from three-point range and 66.4 percent from the charity stripe.
Scouting the Opponent
Sacramento State is 2-7 on the season after losing to San Francisco, 64-55, last Saturday. In that game, senior Atty Boyer scored 15 points and junior Charday Hunt added 12. Boyer and junior Erika Edwards both grabbed 10 rebounds, while Edwards also tallied three steals. Sophomore Tika Koshiyama-Diaz dished out three assists. On the year, Boyer paces the Hornets in scoring with a 13.0 average followed by Hunt at 12.4. Boyer is the top rebounder, averaging 7.9 boards per contest. Sophomore Sami Field-Polisso has a team-high 29 assists and Hunt leads the team in steals with 14 and in blocked shots with seven. Sac State is shooting 36.5 percent from the field, 31.9 percent from three-point range and 72.7 percent from the three-point 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 38-36 at Tech and a career record of 217-87 in her 10th year. Dan Muscatell is in his sixth year as head coach at Sacramento State with a career record of 29-119.
Series Record
Texas Tech is 2-0 against Sacramento State after winning the last contest, 63-53, on Dec. 1, 2005, in Lubbock. The Lady Raiders won the first game, 83-37, Dec. 12, 2004, also in Lubbock.
Last Time Out
With her fourth double-double of the season, Dominic Seals put Texas Tech back in the win column with a 72-55 victory over Prairie View A&M.
Seals led all players with season highs of 22 points and 14 rebounds with 11 of those rebounds coming in the second half.
The first 20 minutes of play were close than the second half as the Lady Panthers led most of the first half. Tech took the final lead change of the game at 30-29 with nine seconds to go in the first period on a free throw by Keisha Walker. Maria Moore hit a jumper at the buzzer to give the Lady Raiders a 32-29 advantage at the half.
With momentum going into the second half, Tech started off with a jumper by Moore at 19:21 and then Keisha Walker got the steal on the inbounds and hit a jumper at 19:13 to give Tech a 36-29 lead. Tech went on a 19 to 10 run to take a 12-point lead at 51-39 with 14:48 remaining in the contest. Tech took care of the basketball as well, committing just six turnovers in the final 20 minutes of play.
"The energy level was really good and we took better care of the basketball," said Tech head coach Kristy Curry. "We were able to limit their touches and we tried to take them out of it. Our kids did a nice job of executing defensively."
The Lady Raiders got its largest lead of the night at 72-51 on a jumper by Seals with 1:41 to go in the game.
Joining Seals in double figures for Tech were Moore, Walker and Jordan Murphree with 11 points each and Kierra Mallard with 10. Moore also collected seven assists.
Tech outrebounded Prairie View A&M 47 to 45. Tech was 39.4 percent from the field, hitting 26-of-66 shots.
Candice Thomas led the Lady Panthers with 12 points.
A Look Ahead
Texas Tech hosts 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. The Lady Raiders open Big 12 Conference play on Sat., Jan. 10, by hosting Texas at 2 p.m. They then hit the road for two league games at Texas A&M on Tues., Jan. 13, at 7 p.m., and at Kansas on Sat., Jan. 17, at 7 p.m. Tech hosts Kansas State on Wed., Jan. 21, at 7 p.m. on the Texas Tech Television Network and Baylor on Sat., Jan. 24, at 1 p.m. on FSN.
NCAA Stats
As of games through Dec. 14, Texas Tech ranks 23rd in turnovers per game at 15.1 and 45th in assist/turnover ratio at 0.90, among all NCAA Division I teams.
Change in Lineup
Head coach Kristy Curry has used eight different lineups in the 10 games this season. Three games this season have seen 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 10 contests.
Forcing Turnovers
In the last two home games against UNLV and Prairie View A&M, Tech forced a combined 52 turnovers. UNLV committed 27 turnovers to Prairie View's 25. Both are opponent highs for the year.
Seals Propels Tech Over Prairie View A&M
Senior Dominic Seals had season highs of 22 points and 14 rebounds to lead Texas Tech to a 72-44 victory over Prairie View A&M. It was her fourth double-double of the season and the 13th of her career. She has scored in double figures in nine of 10 games this year. Of her 22 points, 10 of them came from the free throw line which was the first time a player had made 10 free throws in a game since Erin Grant hit 14 at Penn State in double overtime on Dec. 4, 2005. Tech is 3-1 when Seals records a double-double.
Another Double-Digit Scoring Effort for Moore
Senior Maria Moore scored 11 points against Prairie View A&M, marking three-straight games of double-figure scoring for the point guard. It was her four time this year to score in double digits. Moore also tied her season-high seven assists.
Murphree Ties Career-High Blocks
Junior Jordan Murphree tied her career high of two blocks versus Prairie View A&M. The two blocks were her first blocks of the season.
Five in Double Figures
For the second time this season, the Lady Raiders had five players score in double figures as they defeated the Lady Panthers of Prairie View A&M. Senior Dominic Seals led the way with a game-high 22 points and seniors Maria Moore and Keisha Walker and junior Jordan Murphree all scored 11 points each. Freshman Kierra Mallard chipped in 10 points.
Martin Hot From Charity Stripe
Junior Tilmila Martin was perfect from the free throw line at UNM as she connected on all six free throw attempts against the Lobos. On the year, Martin is shooting a team-best 91.7 percent from the free throw line (22-of-24). She also tied her career high of three assists in that game.
Season Highs for Walker
Senior Keisha Walker grabbed a season-high five rebounds at UNM, while dishing out a season-high three assists.
Keeping Control
Texas Tech committed just nine turnovers at New Mexico, tying its season low. Tech also had nine turnovers against Idaho in the season opener.
Moore Pours in Career High
Senior Maria Moore poured in a career-high 18 points against UNLV. She was one of four Lady Raiders to score in double figures as senior Dominic Seals had 14 points and juniors Jordan Murphree and Ashlee Roberson both scored 12 points apiece.
She's Baaack!
Junior Jordan Murphree returned to action on Dec. 2, against UNLV. The Brock, Texas, native had missed the prior six games with a back injury. In her first game back, she scored 12 points, tied season-high three rebounds and added season highs of two assists and four steals.
Third Double-Double for Seals
Senior Dominic Seals registered her third double-double of the season and her 12th of her career as she finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds versus the Rebels.
Roberson Knocks Down 3s
Junior Ashlee Roberson knocked down a career-high three three-pointers in the win over UNLV. Her previous high was two, which she had twice in her career.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 has 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 played at New Mexico (L, 54-63) 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 (W, 75-63), 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.
