The #21/23 Lady Raiders play the Texas Longhorns in Lubbock on Saturday, Jan 28, 2012 at 2pm CST at the USA. This will be the 86th meeting between these two teams. Texas holds the lead in the series, 60-25 and have won the last 5 meetings. Texas is 19-15 against Texas Tech when the teams meet in Lubbock.
Tech (14-5, 2-5) enters the game after their 5th loss of the season in a game that lacked energy and focus. The leading scorer for Tech, Senior Forward Kierra Mallard did not make the trip to Lawrence due to an undisclosed injury. The Lady Longhorns are coming off a win over the Mizzou Tigers on Wed., Jan 25, 2012 in Austin, TX. Texas led the entire game with a final score of 75-58.
NCAA Pack the House Challenge - All seats only $3!
The Texas Tech women's basketball program and the NCAA are joining to be part of the "Pack The House Challenge" this weekend
What's at Stake: Tech will be fighting to get their 15th win of the season and to pull out of a 5-game slide. The Lady Raiders are fighting to stay ranked in the Top 25. Tech has been ranked for 10 straight weeks. The Lady Longhorns are looking for their 14th win and their 4th Conference game win.
Comments: Tech MUST win this game if they are to stay ranked and have a chance to play in the NCAA Tournament. The team has not only slid in recent weeks, they have practically collapsed. The team cohesiveness we had seen all season has seemed to disappear. The stats from the game against Kansas are just dismal: 29.7 FG%. Zero 3-pts, 38.5 FT%, zero steals and only 6 points from 15 turnovers. I am hoping they turn this around and get a win today over Texas and continue to win the rest of their games. I am hoping that the Lady Raiders can improve on their FG%, FT% and capitalize on their Rebounds and TO's.
More after the Jump ...
Current record: Tech's current season record is 14-5, 2-5 Big 12. Texas' current season record is 13-6, 3-4 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. Texas is not ranked.
Players to watch:
Tech: Senior Forward Kierra Mallard is averaging 13.1 pnts and 8.8 rebounds/game and has 44 blocks and 28 steals; Junior Guard Casey Morris averages 9.2 points per game and 3.7 rebounds/game and has 44 steals and has a 85.7 FT%; Junior Christine Hyde is averaging 8.8 points and 4.2 rebounds/game and has 19 steals; Junior Guard Monique Smalls is averaging 8.2 points and 3.4 rebounds and has 58 steals; Sophomore Kelsi Baker averages 7.5 points and 4.3 rebounds/game and has 8 blocks and 14 steals; Sophomore Forward Shauntal Nobles is averaging 6.1 pts and 5.1 rebounds/game and has 18 blocks and 17 steals. Junior Guard Chynna Brown is averaging 8.1 pts and 3.9 rebounds/game and has 17 steals; Senior Forward Jordan Barncastle averages 4.1 pts/game and completes 75% Ts and has 9 steals.
Texas: Senior Guard Yvonne Anderson is averaging 11 pts and 3.1 rebounds/game and has 49 steals; Senior Forward Ashley Gayle averages 6.1 pts and 7.8 rebounds/game and has 64 blocks and 21 steals; Sophomore Guard Chassidy Fussell averages 16.5 pts and 4.1 rebounds/game and has 27 steals and is 89% FT shooter; Senior Guard Ashleigh Fontenette averages 11.1 pts and 3.7 rebounds/game and has 21 steals; Sophomore Forward Cokie Reed is averaging 8.5 pts and 5.5 rebounds/game and has 20 blocks and 10 steals.
Previously Play: The Lady Red Raiders played the Kansas Jayhawks in Lawrence, KS on Wed. 25th, 2012. It was a very poor performing game for the Lady Raider and they lost to KU 62-43. The leading scorer, Senior Forward Kierra Mallard, did not make the trip to Lawrencedue to an undisclosed injury and the rest of the team just cold not fill the gaps. The Lady Longhorns are coming off a win over the Mizzou Tigers in Austin, TX on Wed., Jan 25, 2012. While Texas has struggled this year and have a number of their Guards that are injured, the Longhorns beat Missouri 75-58. Texas led the entire game and held the Tigers to a 28.8 FG% and only allowed 12 points in the paint.
Coaches: Kristy Curry is coaching her 6th season at Tech. (102-77). Gail Goestenkors is entering her 4th season with the Texas Longhorns (84-50).
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 Texas Longhorns finished the 2010-11 season 19-14, 7-9 and finished in 7th place in the Big12. The Lady Longhorns were invited to the NCAA Tournament but lost in the 1st round. Texas returned 9 Letterwinners (4 Starters) and have 5 newcomers.
Radio: Texas Tech Sports Network (97.3 FM Lubbock) and Texas (KVET 103.1 FM and 1300 AM)
Gametracker: www.texastech.com/gametracker and www.texassports.com/gametracker
Streaming video www.texastech.com/allaccess/ (~ $10/month charge)
Game Thread will go up at 1:45pm CST on Saturday , Jan 28, 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 19th overall in the country. The Lady Raiders are also fourth in conference in scoring with 73.2 points per game - 27th nationally.
The Lady Raiders are second the Big 12 Conference in offensive rebounds with 17.5 per game and are third in the conference in rebounding offense (43.9%) and fifth in rebounding defense (35.4%). They are also second in the conference in rebounding margin (+8.4) which is also 18th-best among all NCAA Div. 1 teams.
The Big 12 is the only league in which every team currently has a winning record.
The Big 12 claims the best win percentage (.676) of the six BCS leagues in competition against each other. The Big 12 is the only of the six that is .500 or better against the other five.
The Big 12 is listed first in the Sagarin and Women's RPI ratings and is the only conference with every team in the top 76 of the NCAA RPI.
Texas Tech head coach Kristy Curry
On being happy with her team's effort:
"When you outrebound them 42-36 and you have 17 offensive rebounds, that stat shows how hard the kids played. They just couldn't make a shot. That's the frustrating part. To see them trying so hard, whether it was at the free throw line or the basket, we get three more shots than they do and just miss so many shots and eight free throws. I don't think it was a lack of effort. You have to credit Kansas. Anytime you shoot 48 percent, you're going to have a chance to win a whole bunch of games, so credit KU. I certainly don't want to say we just didn't shoot it well because I've had that happen. People come in and say ‘they lost to Texas Tech because they just didn't shoot it well.' The bottom line is that Kansas played great tonight. They defended their home court like you have to do in this league. You credit them, and also take away the fact that I'm not disappointed in our kids' effort."
On Kierra Mallard's absence on the defensive side of the ball:
"We continued to teach during that game that it's very important to understand that you cannot give up dribble penetration, and you have to have great help. I thought there were a few times where (Kansas forward Carolyn) Davis) is so tough to defend, no matter who you're trying to defend her with. If you give up dribble penetration and you don't have great help and great ball pressure, you're going to have some problems. That's where we broke down. I was really pleased with Shauntal (Nobles) and Ebony's (Walker) effort. You just credit Davis. She did a great job tonight. Her team did a great job getting her the ball."
On concern with Davis's matchup:
"You're always concerned because she's shooting 64 percent from the field. When you give her layups, and those are hard to miss, she does a great job with that. There are times where they'll turn the corner, and they know they may not make the shot, but they're going to throw it hard off the glass just so she can go get it. They have such a great understanding of each other. (Kansas guard Angel) Goodrich understands very well. She's back and healthy. (Kansas forward Aishah) Sutherland understands well. It's just from them understanding and their maturity playing with each other."
On reaction after the game:
"One of the kids spoke up and said ‘guys, we've been here before.' We've had the low point before. We bounced back. We have the opportunity going back to Lubbock to be 5-5 after three games. We'll be right back in the thick of things. They understand that. We're staying positive. (We) just need to keep shooting the basketball, and getting there every day. You're going to practice like you play. We had two very good days of practice. We just didn't shoot it as well as we wish we had on the road tonight. Credit KU."
On if KU's defense disrupted shooting:
"I don't think so. We had a couple of quick shots in the second half. We were trying a little bit too hard off one pass. We missed eight free throws, too. You just want them to relax, let the game come to them and not try so hard sometimes."
On what she said to team after KU's opening 12-2 run:
"Win the next four minutes, and understand that's how you have to play the game. Just to keep fighting, and do the things that we know we can do. Stay positive, and stay together."
Senior forward Jordan Barncastle
On what to take away from first half:
"I think it shows we're willing to compete, and we're going to give energy and effort each possession. In the second half, things didn't quite fall our way offensively, but we bounced back, and we'll try to do better next time."
On what changed in the second half offensively:
"Shot selection and percentages. We just weren't hitting. Sometimes that happens. (we need) short-term memory and to move on to the next one."
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| TEXAS TECH LADY RAIDERS (14-5, 2-5) | |||||
| NAME | NO. | HT | P | YR | STATS |
| Monique Smalls | 23 | 5-6 | G | JR | 8.3 pts/game |
| Casey Morris | 15 | 5-9 | G | JR | 9.7 pts/game |
| Christine Hyde | 5 | 5-10 | G | JR | 8.8 pts/game |
| Kelsi Baker | 41 | 6-0 | F | SO | 7.6 pts/game |
| Kierra Mallard | 20 | 6-3 | F | SR | 13.1 pts/game |
| Texas Longhorns (13-6, 3-4) | |||||
| NAME | NO. | HT | P | YR | STATS |
| Yvonne Anderson | 12 | 5-7 | G | SR | 11 pts/game |
| Ashley Gayle | 22 | 6-4 | P | SR | 6.1 pts/game |
| Chassidy Fussell | 24 | 5-10 | G | SO | 16.5 pts/game |
| Ashleigh Fontenette | 33 | 5-8 | G | SR | 11.1 pts/game |
| Cokie Reed | 45 | 6-4 | P | SO | 8.5 pts/game |
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| The Four Factors to Winning | Texas | Texas Tech |
| Shooting eFG% | 0.368 | 0.354 |
| Ball Handling TO% | 0.385 | 0.396 |
| Off rebounding OR% | 0.373 | 0.426 |
| Shooting FTs FT Rate | 0.687 | 0.661 |
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| Scoring Offense | W-L | Pts | Avg/G |
| Texas Tech | 14-5, 2-5 | 1360 | 71.6 |
| Texas | 13-6, 3-4 | 1322 | 69.6 |
| Scoring Defense | W-L | Pts | Avg/G |
| Texas Tech | 14-5, 2-5 | 1090 | 57.4 |
| Texas | 13-6, 3-4 | 1124 | 59.2 |
| Scoring Margin | Off | Def | Margin |
| Texas Tech | 71.6 | 57.4 | +14.2 |
| Texas | 69.6 | 59.2 | +10.4 |
| Free Throw % | FT Made | FT Attempts | Pct. |
| Texas Tech | 285 | 431 | 0.661 |
| Texas | 266 | 387 | 0.687 |
| Field Goal % | FG | FG A | Pct. |
| Texas Tech | 486 | 1202 | 0.404 |
| Texas | 484 | 1155 | 0.419 |
| Field Goal % Defense | FG | FGA | Pct. |
| Texas Tech | 386 | 1062 | 0.363 |
| Texas | 389 | 1150 | 0.338 |
| 3-Point FG % | FG | FGA | Pct. |
| Texas Tech | 103 | 317 | 0.325 |
| Texas | 88 | 278 | 0.317 |
| 3-Point FG % Defense | FG | FGA | Pct. |
| Texas Tech | 74 | 276 | 0.268 |
| Texas | 98 | 306 | 0.32 |
| Rebounding Offense | Reb | Avg/G | |
| Texas Tech | 832 | 43.8 | |
| Texas | 796 | 41.9 | |
| Rebounding Defense | Reb | Avg/G | |
| Texas Tech | 674 | 35.5 | |
| Texas | 738 | 38.8 | |
| Blocked Shots | Blocks | Avg/G | |
| Texas Tech | 90 | 4.74 | |
| Texas | 133 | 7 | |
| Assists | No. | Avg/G | |
| Texas Tech | 275 | 14.47 | |
| Texas | 276 | 14.53 | |
| Steals | No. | Avg/G | |
| Texas Tech | 229 | 12.05 | |
| Texas | 185 | 9.74 |