Final Non-Conference Game Awaits Lady Raiders
December 31, 2009 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 31, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format 
Game 14 vs. Savannah State • January 2, 2010
United Spirit Arena (15,050) • Lubbock, Texas • 2 p.m. • TTSN
The Game
Texas Tech (11-2) plays its final non-conference game of the season as it hosts Savannah State (8-8) on Sat., Jan. 2, at 2 p.m., at the United Spirit Arena. It is the second meeting between the two schools.
On the Air
The game is being televised on the Texas Tech Sports Network as David Thetford (play-by-play) and Crystal Boles (color analyst) call the game. It will air locally in Lubbock on KMYL - My Lubbock TV, and in Waco on MYTX-2. The game can be heard on the radio on the Texas Tech Sports Network as Steve Strain calls 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 11-2 on the season after defeating North Dakota, 81-61, and losing at Tulane, 67-49, at the Tulane DoubleTree Classic Dec. 28-29. On the year, sophomore Kierra Mallard paces the Lady Raiders in scoring with a 15.1 average followed by senior Jordan Murphree at 11.8 and senior Ashlee Roberson at 10.3. Roberson is the top rebounder, grabbing 9.8 boards per contest and Mallard is averaging 8.0 rebounds. Mallard is shooting 50.3 percent from the field, while freshman Mary Bokenkamp is shooting 50 percent from the three-point arc and senior Tilmila Martin is shooting 89.5 percent from the free throw line. Freshman Monique Smalls has a team-high 51 assists. Murphree leads the team in steals with 38. Mallard is the top shot blocker with 29 blocks. Tech is shooting 43.3 percent from the field, 34.1 percent from the three-point range and 67.9 percent from the charity stripe.
The Opponent
Savannah State is 8-8 on the season after losing to Georgia, 80-45, on Wednesday. On the year, sophomore Crissa Jackson leads the Lady Tigers in scoring with a 10.7 average. Sophomore Alisha Nelson is the top rebounder, averaging 7.6 rebounds per outing. Jackson leads the team in assists with 58 and junior Courtney Long has a team-high 34 steals. Nelson is the top shot blocker with 44 blocks. Savannah State is shooting 38.2 percent from the field, 28 percent from the three-point arc and 55.2 percent from the free throw line.
The Series
Texas Tech and Savannah State are meeting for just the second time in the series after the Lady Raiders won last year's game, 80-39, on Feb. 2.
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 59-49 at Tech and a career record of 238-100 in 11 years. Cedric Baker is in his seventh year as head coach of the Lady Tigers with a record of 59-128 and he is in his 18th year as a head coach with a career record of 251-241.
The Last Time Out
December 28 - Tilmila Martin scored a career-high 20 points to lead Texas Tech to an 81-61 victory over North Dakota. The first half was a tight one as there were seven lead changes and three ties. The Lady Raiders led by as many as nine points eight minutes into the game when Chynna Brown hit a jumper to make the score 15-6. North Dakota scored the first basket of the game and didn't get back the lead until the 6:36 mark as Shyla Kuehl made a layup. With 52 second remaining in the period, Monique Smalls hit a layup, was fouled and connected on the free throw to give Tech a one-point lead at 33-32. It was a lead the Lady Raiders would keep the rest of the game. The Lady Raiders held a 35-32 advantage at halftime. At 15:13 in the second period, the Fighting Sioux cut the lead to three points on a layup by Mallory Youngblut. It was the closest North Dakota would get the remainder of the game. Christine Hyde hit 1-of-2 free throws at 14:08 to put the score at 46-42 and sent the Lady Raiders on an 8-2 run to give them their first double-digit lead of the game at 54-44 with 11:11 to go. Tech continued to roll and took a 20-point lead at 77-57 with 2:18 left in the contest. Their largest margin was 22 points, twice in the last minute and a half - the first on a pair of free throws by Martin and then a layup by Martin with 22 seconds left. Martin was a perfect 100 percent from the field and free throw line as she was 5-for-5 from the field, including 2-for-2 from three-point range, and 8-for-8 from the charity stripe. Also scoring in double figures for Tech was Kierra Mallard with 18 points, Jordan Murphree with 14 and Smalls with a career-high 11 points. Ashlee Roberson grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds, while Mallard and Smalls had game highs of five blocks and five assists, respectively. It was the third time this season Tech shot 50 percent or better from the field as it hit 53.1 percent of its shots (26-49) while North Dakota shot 40.7 percent (22-54). Tech had 10 more rebounds than the Fighting Sioux, 34-24. However, the Lady Raiders did commit a season-high 28 turnovers.
December 29 - Texas Tech women's basketball suffered just its second loss of the season by falling to Tulane, 67-49, in the championship game of the Tulane DoubleTree Classic. Tulane controlled a majority of the game, including the whole second half. Texas Tech started off the game with a 3-0 lead, which was its largest advantage of the game. The last time Tech would lead the game was at the 16:57 mark when Kierra Mallard hit a jumper to put the score at 5-4. The Lady Raiders knotted the score five times after that, with the last coming at 19-19 with 4:46 to go in the first half as Ashlee Roberson nailed a jumper. The Greenwave took a six-point lead at the half, 27-21. Tulane came out strong in the second half opening the period on a 10-1 run the first three minutes and just continued to dominate from there. Their biggest lead of the game was 22 points when Danielle Nunn made 1-of-2 free throws to give the Greenwave a 53-31 advantage with 9:03 remaining in the contest. The closest Tech would get in the final nine minutes was 17 points twice, the last coming with 5:55 to go on a layup by Mallard. The Lady Raiders had two players finish with double-doubles at Mallard had 15 points and 13 rebounds and Roberson added 13 points and a career-high 18 rebounds. Tulane had four players in double figures led by Nunn's 15 points. Tech shot just 37.3 percent from the field (19-51), while Tulane hit 43.1 percent (25-58) of its shot attempts. The Lady Raiders outrebounded the Greenwave 46-31.
A Look Ahead
The Lady Raiders open Big 12 play on Sat., Jan. 9, at Oklahoma at 2:30 p.m. on the Texas Tech Sports Network (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. Tech returns home for two-straight games - Wed., Jan. 27, vs. Nebraska at 7 p.m., and Sat., Jan. 30, vs. Oklahoma at 2 p.m. Both game will be televised on the TTSN.
NCAA Stats
As of games through Dec. 20, freshman Monique Smalls ranks 21st in assist/turnover ratio at 2.26, while senior Jordan Murphree is 26th in steals per game at 3.0, and senior Tilmila Martin is 38th in free throw percentage at 88.4, among all NCAA Division I players. As a team, Texas Tech ranks 14th in steals per game at 12.5, 17th in won-lost percentage at 90.0, 28th in three-point field goal percentage defense at 26.2, 40th in scoring margin at 14.2, 46th in personal fouls at 15.6 and 47th in field goal percentage 44.0, 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 1,042 career points, which ranks 25th all-time at Texas Tech.
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.
Losing Control
Texas Tech committed a season-high 28 turnovers against North Dakota and then the next night turned the ball over 27 times at Tulane. On the year, the Lady Raiders are averaging 20.2 turnovers a game.
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.
Smalls Grabs Big
Freshman Monique Smalls grabbed a career-high seven rebounds against Mercer. The 5-6 point guard improved over her previous career high of five, which she had two times this season.
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 38, averaging 2.9 per game. The Lady Raiders currently lead all Big 12 schools in steals per game at 11.9.
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 marked the third time in four games she had 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 eight games this season, including five double-doubles.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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) 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.
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 (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.
