(Editors Note: I apologize for the delay in getting this write-up posted. I will be putting up a Game Thread at 1pm CST on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011)
The #19 Lady Red Raiders plays the #16 Penn State Nittany Lions in Lubbock on Saturday afternoon (Dec. 3, 2011) at 2pm CST at the USA. This will be the 6th meeting between these two teams. Pitt State leads the series 3-2. The last meeting was Dec. 5, 2010 in the inaugural Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge in University Park, PA with the Lady Lions winning 76-68. This will be the 2nd time Penn State has come to play in Lubbock. The first time, was on Dec. 21, 2004 when the Lady Red Raiders beat the Lady Lions 79-65.
Tech has 6 wins so far this season. Tech is coming off a win over the Texas State Bobcats. Penn State has 6 wins and 1 loss this season. Penn State is coming off a win over #14 North Carolina.
What's at Stake: If Tech pulls out a win it would be their first win over a ranked team this season and would keep the Lady Red Raiders undefeated. The Lady Lions would have their first back-to-back wins over ranked opponents since January 2005 and would give PSU their 7th win for the season.
More after the Jump ...
Current record: Tech's current season record is 6-0, 0-0 Big 12. Penn State's current season record is 6-1, 0-0 Big10.
Rankings: The Red Raiders are 19th in this week's Associated Press poll and 25th in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll. The Lady Lions are 16th in the AP Poll and 15th in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll.
Players to watch:
Tech: Junior Forward Kierra Mallard is averaging a double-double with 14.2 points and 10.7 rebounds/game and has 14 blocks. Sophomore Guard Casey Morris averaged 8.3 points per game and 4.5 rebounds/game; Junior Christine Hyde is averaging 9.3 points and 4 rebounds/game; Sophomore Guard Monique Smalls is averaging 7.2 points and 3.3 rebounds and 4 blocks/game and has 25 steals; Sophomore Kelsi Baker averages 10 points and 5.3 rebounds/game.
Penn State: Sophomore Guard Maggie Lucas is averaging 18.7 points and 4.4 rebounds/game; Junior Guard Alex Bentley is averaging 15.3 points and has 20 steals; Senior Guard Zhaque Gray is averaging 14.7 points and 4 rebounds/game; Junior Center Nikki Greene is averaging 7.7 points and 7.1 rebounds/game and has 8 blocks; Sophomore Forward Ariel Edwards is averaging 6.7 points and 4.4 rebounds/game.
Previously Play: The Lady Red Raiders routed the Texas State Bobcats on Wednesday, Nov. 30th 85-40. Tech had a 19-4 run in the first half. Tech had 4 players in double digits. The Lady Lions topped #14 North Carolina Tar Heels on Wednesday, Nov. 30th 103-84. It was the 2nd game in a row that Penn State scored at least 100 points.
Coaches: Kristy Curry is coaching her 6th season at Tech. (95-73). Coquese Washington is entering her 5th season with the Lady Penn State Nittany Lions Cougars (72-61).
Last year: The Lady Red Raiders finished the 2010-11 season 22-11, 8-8 with a tie for 6th place in the Big12. Tech returns 11 players (3 Starters) from last year's team and welcomed 2 newcomers The Lady Lions finished the 2010-11 season 25-10, 11-5 and finished in 2nd place in the Big10. The Penn State Nittany Lions returned 4 Starters and 10 Letterwinners.
Gametracker: www.texastech.com or www.GoPSUsports.com
Game Thread will go up at 1pm CST on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011
Other Notes:
The Series History is the following:
Dec. 19, 1987 at PSU PSU 85 TTU 80
Nov. 24, 2000 Neutral site PSU 71 TTU 79
Dec. 21, 2004 at TTU PSU 65 TTU 79
Dec . 4, 2005 at PSU PSU 78 TTU 72 (2OT)
Dec. 5, 2010 at PSU PSU 76 TTU 68
Texas Tech won its 800th game in program history on Nov. 26, against Central Arkansas becoming just the 15th Division I program to reach the milestone, joining Conference members Texas and Kansas State.
The Big 12's six undefeated teams is also a national-high with no other league having more than four.
In the last game, four Lady Red Raiders had double figures: Sophomore Forward Kelsi Baker 12 points, Kierra Mallard and Monique Smalls 11pts, and Casey Morris 10pts. Monique Smalls had 7 Steals.
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PROBABLE STARTERS |
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| TEXAS TECH LADY RAIDERS (6-0) | |||||
| NO. | NAME | HT | P | YR | STATS |
| 23 | Monique Smalls | 5-6 | G | JR | 7.2 pts/game |
| 15 | Casey Morris | 5-9 | G | JR | 8.3 pts/game |
| 5 | Christine Hyde | 5-10 | G | JR | 9.3 pts/game |
| 20 | Kierra Mallard | 6-3 | F | SR | 14.2 pts/game |
| 41 | Kelsi Baker | 6-0 | F | SO | 10 pts/game |
| PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS (6-1) | |||||
| NO. | NAME | HT | P | YR | STATS |
| 12 | Zhaque Gray | 5-8 | G | SR | 14.7 pts/game |
| 20 | Alex Bentley | 5-7 | G | JR | 15.3 pts/game |
| 33 | Maggie Lucas | 5-10 | G | SO | 18.7 pts/game |
| 23 | Ariel Edwards | 6-2 | F | SO | 6.7 pts/game |
| 54 | Nikki Greene | C | JR | 7.7 pts/game | |
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| Scoring Offense | Games | W-L | Pts | Avg/G |
| Texas Tech | 6 | 6-0 | 506 | 84.3 |
| Penn State | 7 | 6-1 | 535 | 76.4 |
| Scoring Defense | Games | W-L | Pts | Avg/G |
| Texas Tech | 6 | 6-0 | 305 | 50.8 |
| Penn State | 7 | 6-1 | 447 | 63.9 |
| Scoring Margin | Games | Off | Def | Margin |
| Texas Tech | 6 | 84.3 | 50.8 | +33.5 |
| Penn State | 7 | 76.4 | 63.9 | +12.9 |
| Free Throw % | Games | FT Made | FT Attempts | Pct. |
| Texas Tech | 6 | 115 | 162 | 0.71 |
| Penn State | 7 | 104 | 140 | 0.743 |
| Field Goal % | Games | FG | FG A | Pct. |
| Texas Tech | 6 | 184 | 416 | 0.442 |
| Penn State | 7 | 195 | 451 | 0.432 |
| Field Goal % Defense | Games | FG | FGA | Pct. |
| Texas Tech | 6 | 106 | 335 | 0.316 |
| Penn State | 7 | 154 | 464 | 0.332 |
| 3-Point FG % | Games | FG | FGA | Pct. |
| Texas Tech | 6 | 23 | 87 | 0.264 |
| Penn State | 7 | 41 | 110 | 0.373 |
| 3-Point FG % Defense | Games | FG | FGA | Pct. |
| Texas Tech | 6 | 22 | 89 | 0.247 |
| Penn State | 7 | 43 | 162 | 0.265 |
| Rebounding Offense | Games | Reb | Avg/G | |
| Texas Tech | 6 | 306 | 51 | |
| Penn State | 7 | 307 | 43.9 | |
| Rebounding Defense | Games | Reb | Avg/G | |
| Texas Tech | 6 | 197 | 32.8 | |
| Penn State | 7 | 293 | 41.9 | |
| Blocked Shots | Games | Blocks | Avg/G | |
| Texas Tech | 6 | 36 | 6 | |
| Penn State | 7 | 28 | 4 | |
| Assists | Games | No. | Avg/G | |
| Texas Tech | 6 | 100 | 16.67 | |
| Penn State | 7 | 98 | 14 | |
| Steals | Games | No. | Avg/G | |
| Texas Tech | 6 | 100 | 16.67 | |
| Penn State | 7 | 61 | 81.7 |
| The Four Factors to Winning | ||
| Penn State | Texas Tech | |
| Shooting eFG% | 0.31 | 0.34 |
| Ball Handling TO% | 0.45 | 0.51 |
| Off rebounding OR% | 0.35 | 0.46 |
| Shooting FTs FT Rate | 0.47 | 0.51 |