Women's Basketball Faces Mercer on Monday
December 20, 2009 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 20, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format 
Game 11 vs. Mercer • December 21, 2009
United Spirit Arena (15,050) • Lubbock, Texas • 7 p.m.
The Game
Texas Tech (9-1) plays its final game before the Christmas break and its last home game of 2009 on Mon., Dec. 21, as it hosts Mercer (4-4) at 7 p.m. It is the first meeting between the two schools.
On the Air
The game can be heard on the radio on the Texas Tech Sports Network as Steve Strain (play-by-play) and Crystal Boles (color analyst) 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 9-1 on the season after getting its first road win of the season at UCLA, 59-58, last Friday. On the year, sophomore Kierra Mallard paces the Lady Raiders in scoring with a 14.8 average followed by senior Jordan Murphree at 12.6 and senior Ashlee Roberson at 10.5. Roberson is the top rebounder, grabbing 8.8 boards per contest and Mallard is averaging 7.1 rebounds. Mallard is shooting 51.3 percent from the field, while freshman Mary Bokenkamp is shooting 50 percent from the three-point arc and senior Tilmila Martin is shooting 88.4 percent from the free throw line. Freshman Monique Smalls has a team-high 43 assists. Murphree leads the team in steals with 30. Mallard is the top shot blocker with 18 blocks. Tech is shooting 44 percent from the field, 35.1 percent from the three-point range and 68 percent from the charity stripe.
The Opponent
Mercer enters the game with a 4-4 record after losing at Oklahoma State, 100-68, on Saturday. On the year, senior LaToya Jackson leads the Bears in scoring with a 15.5 average followed by senior Courtney Ford at 15.3 and freshman Lindsey Lowrie at 10.5. Ford is the top rebounder, averaging 9.8 boards per contest. Ford also has team highs of 44 assists and 24 steals. Sophomore Lacy Ramon is the top shot blocker with 11 blocks. Mercer is shooting 40.4 percent from the field, 35.8 percent from the three-point arc and 68.1 percent from the free throw line.
The Series
It is the first meeting between Texas Tech and Mercer.
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 57-48 at Tech and a career record of 236-99 in 11 years. Janell Jones is in her third year as head coach at Mercer with a record of 25-44 and she is in her 10th year as a head coach with a career record of 250-68.
The Last Time Out
December 18 - Ashlee Roberson hit two free throws with 4.7 seconds to go in the game to give Texas Tech a four-point lead as the Lady Raiders hung on to beat UCLA 59-58 tonight at Pauley Pavilion. The game was a close one throughout as Tech led most of the way, including the whole first half, but its biggest lead was only six points at 20-14 when Mary Bokenkamp nailed a three-pointer with 10:31 to go in the period. The Lady Raiders held a three-point advantage at the half, 29-26. The battle continued in the second half and UCLA tied it up at 41-41 with 10:25 remaining when Erica Tukiainen sank a three. The Lady Raiders responded right back as Jordan Murphree hit a three-pointer 23 seconds later. The Bruins took their first lead of the game at 47-46 when Doreena Campbell hit a layup with just over seven minutes left. Tech knotted it up at 47-47 on a free throw by Roberson at 6:03. From there, the lead changed four times and was tied once over the next minute and 45 seconds, with the last lead change coming as Tech's Tilmila Martin made a three-pointer to give the Lady Raiders a two-point edge at 53-52. UCLA was within two again, 57-55, with two minutes remaining and then neither team would score again until Roberson grabbed a rebound on a missed layup by UCLA's Jasmine Dixon with 4.7 seconds to go and was fouled to send her to the line for double bonus. Roberson connected on both those shots from the charity stripe to give Tech a four-point lead, which sealed the deal for the Lady Raiders. Campbell hit a three at the buzzer to cut Tech's win to just one-point. Murphree was the key player for Tech tonight as she was the only Lady Raider in double figures with a season-high 22 points. On her third basket of the game, a three-pointer at 11:16, Murphree reached the 1,000th-career point plateau. She also finished with a career-high seven steals. The Lady Raiders relied heavily on their outside shooting as they hit 9-of-19 shots from behind the arc for 47.4 percent. Murphree had four of those nine threes, which tied her career high. Roberson was just shy of a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds. Monique Smalls had a team-high three assists. Dixon led UCLA with 14 points. The Bruins outshot the Lady Raiders from the field, 45.3 percent to 35.7 percent. However, Tech outrebounded UCLA 36-34. Nineteen of those 36 rebounds were offensive boards.
A Look Ahead
The Lady Raiders finish 2009 by competing in the Tulane DoubleTree Classic taking on North Dakota on Mon., Dec. 28, at 8 p.m., and then will play either Long Island or Tulane in either the consolation or championship game on Tues., Dec. 29 at 6 or 8 p.m. Tech concludes non-conference play as it hosts Savannah State on Sat., Jan. 2, at 2 p.m. on the Texas Tech Sport Network (TTSN). The Lady Raiders open Big 12 play on Sat., Jan. 9, at Oklahoma at 2:30 p.m. on the TTSN and then host Colorado on Tues., Jan. 12 at 7 p.m. also on the TTSN. Tech will play Texas in Lubbock on Sat., Jan. 16, at 11:30 a.m. on FSN. The Lady Raiders then play at Texas A&M on Sat., Jan. 23, at 3 p.m.
NCAA Stats
As of games through Dec. 13, freshman Monique Smalls ranks 30th in assist/turnover ratio at 2.22, while senior Jordan Murphree is 44th in the same category at 2.06, and sophomore Kierra Mallard ranks 35th in blocked shots per game at 2.0 and 45th in field goal percentage at 54.4, among all NCAA Division I players. Texas Tech ranks 16th in steals per game at 12.2, 19th in won-lost percentage at 88.9, 27th in three-point field goal percentage defense at 25.4, 33rd in field goal percentage at 44.9, 34th in scoring margin at 15.7, 46th in turnover margin at 3.56 and 50th in assists per game at 15.8, among all NCAA Division I teams.
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 the game with a season-high 22 points. She now has 1,015 career points, which ranks 25th all-time at Texas Tech.
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 30, averaging a Big 12-best 3.0 per game. The Lady Raiders currently lead all Big 12 schools in steals per game at 12.5.
Mallard Gets Second Double-Double
Sophomore Kierra Mallard recorded her second double-double of the season with 21 points and 10 rebounds against Lamar. It was her sixth double-double of her career. It marked the third time in four games she has scored 20 or more points.
Double-Digit Rebounding
Senior Ashlee Roberson had her fourth-straight game of double-digit rebounding with 11 boards against Lamar. She has had double-digit rebounds in five games this season, including three double-doubles.
Murphree Increasing Scoring Average
Senior Jordan Murphree has scored in double figures in seven of 10 games this season, including four-straight. She is averaging 16.8 points a game in the last four outings.
Roberson Get Third Double-Double
Senior Ashlee Roberson recorded her second-straight double-double with 11 points and a season-high 13 rebounds against New Mexico. It was her third double-double of the season and the sixth of her career. Roberson also tied her career high of three blocks versus UNM.
Spark Off the Bench
Freshman Mary Bokenkamp was a spark off the bench for the Lady Raiders against New Mexico. Bokenkamp saw 17 minutes of action and scored a career-high nine points as she nailed a career-high three three-pointers.
Twenty Points for Murphree
Senior Jordan Murphree had her first game of the season of 20 or more points as she scored 20 against the Lobos. It broke her previous season-high of 15 vs. San Francisco.
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.
Seeing Double
Senior Ashlee Roberson recorded her second double-double of the year with 12 points and 10 rebounds against the Bobcats.
Small But Mighty
Freshman Monique Smalls had her first double-digit scoring output of her short collegiate career as she scored a career-high 10 points versus Texas State. Her previous career high was eight against Texas-Arlington.
Three Receive Tournament Honors
Sophomore Kierra Mallard averaged 15.7 points and 6.7 rebounds in the Basketball Travelers Tip-Off Tourney to be named MVP of the tournament. Mallard scored a then season-high 21 points against Prairie View A&M, while recording her first double-double of the season and the fifth of her career with 18 points and a season-high 12 rebounds against Texas-Arlington. She also added career highs of six blocks and four assists versus UTA. Senior Ashlee Roberson and freshman Monique Smalls were named to the all-tournament team as well.
Stealing the Show
Freshman Monique Smalls collected a career-high six steals against Prairie View A&M. For the game, Texas Tech tallied 18 steals which was a season high.
Tech Holds Opponents to Under 40 in Back-to-Back Games
For the first time since December 2003, the Lady Raiders held consecutive opponents to under 40 points. Texas Tech allowed 38 points to San Francisco and 37 to Texas-Arlington.
Career High for Barncastle
Sophomore Jordan Barncastle scored a career-high 17 points in the win over San Francisco, breaking her previous career high of 14 points which she had three times, including once this season. She also tied her season-high seven rebounds.
Four in Double Figures in Win Over UAPB
The Lady Raiders had four players score in double figures in the 40-point win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Senior Ashlee Roberson led the way with 21, just one shy of tying her career high. Freshman Marissa Ashton came off the bench to score a career-high 14 and senior Jordan Murphree and sophomore Kierra Mallard both chipped in 11 points.
Raining 3s
Texas Tech hit 13 three-pointers against UAPB, barely missing the school record of 14 for most three-pointers in a game. The Lady Raiders shot 56.5 percent (13-23) long range.
Ashton Has Big Day
To go along with her career-high 14 points, freshman Marissa Ashton also added career highs of eight rebounds, two assists and three three-pointers against the Lady Lions.
Career High Steals for Roberson
Senior Ashlee Roberson tied her career high of five steals against UAPB. She also had five steals at Oklahoma on March 4, 2009.
Doing Dishes
Texas Tech finished the UAPB game with 25 assists, which marked the first time it had done so since tallying 30 against Miami on Dec. 6, 2004. Of those 25, freshman Monique Smalls dished out a career-high eight assists and did not commit a turnover versus UAPB. In the first two games of the year, Smalls had four and two assists, respectively.
Fifty Percent from the Field, Again
For the second time in three games, Texas Tech shot at least 50 percent from the field. The Lady Raiders were 33-of-66 for 50 percent against UAPB. In its first game of the year, Tech hit 36-of-67 shot attempts for 53.7 percent against Sam Houston State. It was the first time Tech had shot over 50 percent since shooting 57.9 percent against Sacramento State on Dec. 20, 2008.
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.
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) who hailed 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 will all suit up for the exhibition game. Freshman Shauntal Nobles will redshirt this year after rupturing her Achilles during preseason workouts. Sophomore transfer Casey Morris will sit 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.
Class Breakdown
The 2009-10 Lady Raiders are young. This year's rosters has just three upperclassmen with three seniors - Tilmila Martin, Jordan Murphree and Ashlee Roberson - and just one junior in Teena Wickett. The sophomore class consists of Jordan Barncastle, Kierra Mallard and Kaylan Talley. The biggest class is the freshmen with five - Marissa Ashton, Chynna Brown, Mary Bokenkamp, Christine Hyde and Monique Smalls.
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.
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 this 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 (Jan. 16) 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 (Jan. 2), at Oklahoma (Jan. 9), Colorado (Jan. 12), Nebraska (Jan. 27) and Oklahoma (Jan. 30).
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, will be televised every Sunday starting Jan. 10. 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. 4 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.
