WBB: #21 Lady Raiders play Kansas on Wed., Jan 25, 2012

The #21/23 Lady Raiders play the Kansas Jayhawks in Lawrence, KS Wednesday, Jan 25, 2012 at 7pm CST at the Allen Fieldhouse. This will be the 18^th meeting between these two teams. Tech holds the lead in the series, 14-3 and has won the last 12 meetings. The Lady Raiders have not lost in Lawrence since 1999 and are 6-2 overall at the Allen Fieldhouse.

Tech (14-4, 2-4) enters the game after their fourth loss of the season in a very messy and lack of focus game against Iowa State in Ames, IA on Sun., Jan 22^nd. Kansas lost to #13 ATM on Saturday, Jan 21, 2012, 76-65.

What's at Stake: Tech will be fighting to get their 15th win of the season and to pull out of a 4-game slide. The Lady Raiders are fighting to stay ranked in the Top 25. The Kansas Jayhawks are looking for their 16^th win and their 5^th conference win.

Comments: Tech MUST win this game if they are to stay ranked and have a chance to play in the NCAA Tournament. There was news that the Lady Raiders had private meetings to discuss off-court issues and had improved practices. I am hoping they turn this around and win in Kansas and also win every game after it. I am hoping that the Lady Raiders can improve on their FT% and capitalize on their Rebounds and TO's. I am hoping that they maintain their record in Lawrence and win.

More after the Jump ...

Current record: Tech's current season record is 14-4, 2-4 Big 12. Kansas' current season record is 15-3, 4-2 Big12.

Rankings: The Lady Raiders dropped four notches to #21 in this week's Associated Press poll and three spots ( 23th) in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll. KU is just one spot out of the ESPN/USA Today top 25 poll receiving 34 votes. In the AP poll, the Jayhawks are garnering 12 votes.

Players to watch:

Tech: Senior Forward Kierra Mallard is averaging 13.3 pnts and 8.8 rebounds/game and has 44 blocks and 28 steals; Junior Guard Casey Morris averages 9.7 points per game and 3.8 rebounds/game and has 44 steals and has a 85.7 FT%; Junior Christine Hyde is averaging 8.8 points and 4.1 rebounds/game and has 19 steals; Junior Guard Monique Smalls is averaging 8.3 points and 3.4 rebounds and has 58 steals; Sophomore Kelsi Baker averages 7.6 points and 4.3 rebounds/game and has 8 blocks and 14 steals; Sophomore Forward Shauntal Nobles is averaging 6.2 pts and 503 rebounds/game and has 15 blocks and 17 steals.

Kansas: Junior Guard Angel Goodrich is averaging 11.8 pts and 3.8 rebounds/game and has 61 steals; Freshman Guard Natalie Knight averages 5.4 pts and 2.9 rebounds/game and has 27 steals; Junior Guard Monica Engelman averages 10.1 pts and 3.3 rebounds/game and is 87.2% from the FT line; Junior Forward Carolyn Davis averages 18.1 pts and 6.1 rebounds/game and has 22 blocks and 16 steals; Senior Center Aishah Sutherland is averaging 13.6 pts and 9.5 rebounds/game and has 26 blocks and 27 steals.

Previously Play: The Lady Red Raiders played the Iowa State Cyclones in Ames, IA on Jan. 22^nd, 2012. It was a very messy game for Tech. The Lady Raiders did not have the focus and energy they had shown in earlier games. Tech was just not in this game. They did not fight for the rebounds and they were flat on their field goal attempts. Tech lost to the Cyclones 49-66. The Lady Jayhawks are coming off a loss to the A&M Aggies in Lawrence, KS on Sat., Jan 21, 2012. Kansas lead scorer, Junior Guard Angel Goodrich, scored a career-high 28 points but it was not enough to beat ATM. Kansas fell to ATM 74-63

Coaches: Kristy Curry is coaching her 6th season at Tech. (102-77). Bonnie Henrickson is entering her 8^th season with the Kansas Jayhawks (132-111).

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 Kanasas Jayhawks finished the 2010-11 season 21-13, 6-10 and finished in 8th place in the Big12. The Lady Jayhawks returned 6 Letterwinners (4 Starters) and have 4 newcomers.

Radio: Texas Tech Sports Network (97.3 FM Lubbock) and Jayhawk Radio Network (KLWN 1320-AM Lawrence and KUDL 1660-AM Kansas City

Gametracker: www.texastech.com/gametracker and www.kuathletics.com/gametracker

Streaming video: www.kuathletics.com

Game Thread will go up at 6:45pm CST on Wednesday , Jan 25, 2012

Other Notes and Quotes:

Texas Tech leads the Big 12 Conference and is No. 13 nationally with 12.7 steals per game this season.

Texas Tech is second in the Big 12 Conference in scoring margin (16.1) and 19^th overall in the country. The Lady Raiders are also fourth in conference in scoring with 73.2 points per game - 27th nationally.

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