The #17/20 Lady Raiders play the Iowa State Cyclones in Ames, IA Sunday Jan 22, 2012 at 1:30pm CST at the Hilton Coliseum. This will be the 19th meeting between these two teams. The series is tied at 9-9 but the Cyclones hold an edge in games played in Ames. Iowa State has won five-of-the-last-six meetings in the series, but Texas Tech did win the last meeting. The Lady Raiders defeated Iowa State, 61-50, a year ago in Lubbock.
This game is being nationally televised on Fox Sports Network at 1:30pm, Sunday Jan 22, 2012
Tech (14-3, 2-3) enters the game after their third loss of the season in a very tough and physical game against Baylor in Lubbock on Wed., Jan 18th. Iowa State is coming off a tough loss to Texas. The game came down to the final buzzer shot that gave Texas the win (62-60).
What's at Stake: Tech will be fighting to get their 15th win of the season and to pull out of a 3-game slide. I am hoping that the Lady Raiders can improve on their FT% and capitalize on their Rebounds and TO's. The Iowa Cyclones are looking for their first win in conference play and will try and to improve their record in the series with Texas Tech. The Cyclones would also like to beat a Top 25 ranked team.
Comments: Tech has struggled in their games on the Iowa State basketball court. The Cyclones have chosen this game as a "white-out " and hope to beat the Lady Raiders once again in Ames. The Lady Raiders need to bounce back from their three loses and they need to rally around each other and they need to beat the Iowa State Cyclones. The Cyclones have the highest average attendance in the Big 12. They average over 9,000 fans per game. With this game being televised and having a "Special Olympics" initiative tied to it, the Hilton Coliseum will be full and very loud. I am hoping Tech wins and improves on their record but it would also be great from a recruiting stance and also for any of the NCAA bracket judges to see a very strong and tough Texas Tech team. If you are going to have a chance to attend the game try and wear Red or Black so as to not add to the "white-out."
More after the Jump ...
Current record: Tech's current season record is 14-3, 2-3 Big 12. Iowa State's current season record is 9-7, 0-5 Big12.
Rankings: The Red Raiders are 17th in this week's Associated Press poll and 20th in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll. The Iowa State Cyclones are not ranked.
Players to watch:
Tech: Senior Forward Kierra Mallard is averaging 13.8 points and 8. 9 rebounds/game and has 42 blocks and 27 steals; Junior Guard Casey Morris averages 9.9 points per game and 3.8 rebounds/game and has 40 steals and has a 84.8 FT%; Junior Christine Hyde is averaging 9.2 points and 4.4 rebounds/game and has 19 steals; Junior Guard Monique Smalls is averaging 8.0 points and 3.3 rebounds and has 57 steals; Sophomore Kelsi Baker averages 7.5 points and 4.2 rebounds/game and has 8 blocks and 14 steals; Sophomore Forward Shauntal Nobles is averaging 6.4 pts and 5.3 rebounds/game and has 15 blocks and 16 steals.
Iowa State: Freshman Guard Nikki Moody is averaging 9.3 pts/game and 3.1 rebounds/game and has 7 blocks and 15 steals; Senior Guard Lauren Mansfield averages 5.6 pts/game and 2.8 rebounds/game and has 20 steals; Freshman Guard Brynn Williamson averages 7.6 pts/game and 2.3 rebounds/game and has 13 steals and has 32 3-ptrs; Junior Forward Chelsea Poppens averages 13.7 pts/game and 11.1 rebounds/game and 24 steals; Junior Center Anna Prins is averaging 7.9 pts/game and 4.2 rebounds/game and has 14 blocks and 9 steals;
Previously Play: The Lady Red Raiders played the Baylor Bears in Lubbock on Jan. 18th, 2012. It was a very hard fought and physical game but Tech came up flat on free-throws shooting only 45.5% and could not capitalize on the turnovers. Tech for the most part kept the game close and got within 6 down the last stretch. The Lady Cyclones are coming off a loss to the Lady Longhorn's in Austin, TX on Wed., Jan 18, 2012. Iowa State had tied the game up after going on a 7-2 run in the last 2 minutes of the game. But Texas scored on a buzzer beater and gave the Cyclones their 5th conference game loss.
Coaches: Kristy Curry is coaching her 6th season at Tech. (102-76). Bill Fennelly is entering his 17th season with the Iowa State Cyclones (363-167).
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 Iowa State Cyclones finished the 2010-11 season 22-11, 9-7 and finished in 5th place in the Big12. They went to the NCAA Tournament where they lost to Marist 74-64 in the First Round after reaching the Elite Eight. The Lady Bears returned 8 Letterwinners (4 Starters) and have 5 newcomer.
TV: Fox Sports Network (National)
Radio: Texas Tech Sports Network 97.3 FM (Lubbock) and Cyclone Radio Network/Learfield and FSN
Gametracker: www.texastech.com/gametracker and www.cyclones.com/gametracker
Streaming video: not available on this game because of TV coverage
Game Thread will go up at 1:15pm CST on Sunday , Jan 22, 2012
Other Notes and Quotes:
The Big 12 is the only league in which every team currently has a winning record.
The Lady Raiders are the second-highest scoring team in the Big 12 (75.2), are second in turnover margin (+4.38) and lead the league in steals (13.4) and offensive rebounds (18.63).
Quotes from the Press Conference after the Baylor Game (Jan 18, 2012):
Texas Tech Head Coach Kristy Curry
Opening Statement
"First thing I want to do is thank the 12, 403 people that were in the stands tonight, and how much that crowd meant to these kids and the students were tremendous, so that's what I want to start with, I want to thank them for coming out. Yes, we are very very disappointed that we lost and the only thing I can say is that we are going to continue to fight and work hard every single day and we hope every single person that came tonight will continue to stick by these kids because I think they deserve it. Again, there are no moral victories tonight and we are very very disappointed that we lost, but I did want to start by saying how much that support meant and how incredibly proud that we're all to be able to represent the double t for every single person in this community, it just means a lot that they were there for us tonight."
On how important dribble penetration was for Tech
"It was big, but the biggest thing was we came out and started to get a bigger feel for understanding that we needed to be more aggressive and I thought our kids did a nice job. We had balance in our scoring in the second half and that gave us a chance."
On how versatile Tech's post players are
"Well I think that gave us some driving lanes, you've got to realize you have to pull her away from the basket and try and do some things, again I want to make it clear tonight credit Baylor they found a way to win and they're much more than one dimensional with her (Brittney Griner) that's why they are the number one team in the country and they've been so successful is because of a Destiny Williams and an Odyssey Sims or Condrey and Hayden and Madden those kids have really matured a lot and did a great job around her. Griner had six boards and you hold her to 21 that's her average, maybe 22.3 I could be a little off, but again they are a great basketball team and credit Baylor for making enough plays down the stretch."
On losing three in a row and turning it around
"You know what we just told our kids they are the exact same basketball team that got to 14 and 0, and there is nothing wrong with us credit the Big 12 a little too guys, we lost by three and one and we just lost by eight to the number one team in the country there are no moral victories and I take full responsibility for those losses. I need to do a better job of coaching these kids so back off them and I'll do a little better job and we'll get it turned around and we'll get it going in the right direction. There is a lot of basketball to be played, heck you look down the league right now and there are two losses here and three losses there and it's going to come down to toughness down the stretch and we will find our way here in a little bit."
Junior Casey Morris
On the fan support
"Well before I start, I want to repeat that the fans, we really appreciate them. The students, alumni and everyone else who comes we really appreciate that. We can feel the energy and hopefully they just stand by us because we will get wins if we keep getting fans like that. We really appreciate it."
On the physicality of the game
"I think we just kept our composure. They always come and play physical, and we just fought back but without getting out of control and tried to stay poised while we were playing."
On this loss hurting more
"It is just like any other loss. We really wanted to beat Baylor, but we really want to beat every other team, we just want to win. We will pick back up and we will stay positive and beat the next team we play and the next after that. We're not going to hang our heads. We are going to keep on playing hard."
Junior Christine Hyde
On being able to drive the ball
"I just played how they were guarding me. When (Brittney) Griner was out of the lane that opens up the floor for everyone else, not just me but shooters and penetrators. When she steps out it we just get a green light to drive, drive, drive instead of just standing out there to shoot, what previous teams have done. We felt like we took advantage of that."
On not being able to convert on turnovers
"That is tough for anybody, not just us. I can't really explain how I feel about that, but it's rough."
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| TEXAS TECH LADY RAIDERS (14-3, 2-3) | |||||
| NAME | NO. | HT | P | YR | STATS |
| Monique Smalls | 23 | 5-6 | G | JR | 7.9 pts/game |
| Casey Morris | 15 | 5-9 | G | JR | 9.9 pts/game |
| Christine Hyde | 5 | 5-10 | G | JR | 8.9 pts/game |
| Kelsi Baker | 41 | 6-0 | F | SO | 7.3 pts/game |
| Kierra Mallard | 20 | 6-3 | F | SR | 14.0 pts/game |
| Iowa State Cyclones (9-7, 0-5) | |||||
| NAME | NO. | HT | P | YR | STATS |
| Brittany Chambers | 2 | 5-8 | G | Jr. | 16.3 pts/game |
| Tasha Dickey | 13 | 5-10 | G | Sr. | 8.8 pts/game |
| Mariah White | 22 | 5-8 | G | Jr. | 6.3 pts/game |
| Jalana Childs | 33 | 6-2 | F | Sr. | 14.5 pts/game |
| Branshea Brown | 34 | 6-2 | F | Sr. | 4.8 pts/game |
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| The Four Factors to Winning | Iowa State | Texas Tech |
| Shooting eFG% | 0.318 | 0.365 |
| Ball Handling TO% | 0.371 | 0.392 |
| Off rebounding OR% | 40.8 | 44.3 |
| Shooting FTs FT Rate | 0.691 | 0.667 |
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| Scoring Offense | W-L | Pts | Avg/G |
| Texas Tech | 14-3, 2-3 | 1268 | 74.6 |
| Iowa State | 9-7, 0-5 | 996 | 62.2 |
| Scoring Defense | W-L | Pts | Avg/G |
| Texas Tech | 14-3, 2-3 | 962 | 66.5 |
| Iowa State | 9-7, 0-5 | 896 | 56 |
| Scoring Margin | Off | Def | Margin |
| Texas Tech | 74.6 | 56.6 | +18 |
| Iowa State | 62.2 | 56 | +6.2 |
| Free Throw % | FT Made | FT Attempts | Pct. |
| Texas Tech | 268 | 402 | 0.667 |
| Iowa State | 199 | 288 | 0.691 |
| Field Goal % | FG | FG A | Pct. |
| Texas Tech | 451 | 1081 | 0.417 |
| Iowa State | 344 | 886 | 0.388 |
| Field Goal % Defense | FG | FGA | Pct. |
| Texas Tech | 338 | 948 | 0.357 |
| Iowa State | 321 | 878 | 0.366 |
| 3-Point FG % | FG | FGA | Pct. |
| Texas Tech | 98 | 289 | 0.339 |
| Iowa State | 109 | 368 | 0.296 |
| 3-Point FG % Defense | FG | FGA | Pct. |
| Texas Tech | 65 | 249 | 0.261 |
| Iowa State | 96 | 289 | 0.332 |
| Rebounding Offense | Reb | Avg/G | |
| Texas Tech | 753 | 44.3 | |
| Iowa State | 652 | 40.8 | |
| Rebounding Defense | Reb | Avg/G | |
| Texas Tech | 594 | 34.9 | |
| Iowa State | 535 | 33.4 | |
| Blocked Shots | Blocks | Avg/G | |
| Texas Tech | 82 | 4.82 | |
| Iowa State | 47 | 2.94 | |
| Assists | No. | Avg/G | |
| Texas Tech | 264 | 15.53 | |
| Iowa State | 236 | 14.75 | |
| Steals | No. | Avg/G | |
| Texas Tech | 220 | 12.94 | |
| Iowa State | 108 | 6.75 |