WBB: #13 Lady Raiders play on the road against Mizzou Sat., Jan 7, 2012

The #13/17 Lady Red Raiders play the Missouri Lady Tigers in Columbia, MO on Saturday Jan.7, 2012 at 4pm CST at the Mizzou Arena. This will be the 19^th meeting between these two teams. Texas Tech leads the series 12-6. The Lady Red Raiders won the last match-up in January 2011 but Tech has not won in Columbia since 2004.

Tech enters the game undefeated at 13-0 and this will be there first away game in conference play. Mizzou was selected to finish in 10^th in the Big12 Preseason Coaches' Poll and were outmaneuvered by Baylor 90-46 on Jan. 4, 2012.

What's at Stake: A win would keep the Lady Red Raiders undefeated and would give Coach Curry her first win in Columbia, MO. The MU Lady Tigers are looking for their first win in conference play.

More after the Jump ...

Current record: Tech's current season record is 13-0, 1-0 Big 12. Missouri's current season record is 10-2, 0-1 Big12.

Rankings: The Red Raiders are 13th in this week's Associated Press poll and 17th in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll. The Missouri Lady Tigers are currently 6^th in the Big12 standings

Players to watch:

Tech: Senior Forward Kierra Mallard is averaging 13.8 points and 9.3 rebounds/game and has 29 blocks. Junior Guard Casey Morris averages 10.2 points per game and 4.2 rebounds/game and has 33 steals; Junior Christine Hyde is averaging 8.8 points and 4.8 rebounds/game; Junior Guard Monique Smalls is averaging 7.8 points and 3.6 rebounds and has 45 steals; Sophomore Kelsi Baker averages 8.4 points and 4.8 rebounds/game.

Missouri: Junior Guard Liene Preide is averaging 8.7 points and 3.5 rebounds/game; Junior Guard Sidney Crafton averages 5.6 points and 5.4 rebounds/game and has 12 steals; Freshman Guard Kylie Simmons averages 3.5points per game and has 53 assists and 12 steals; Senior Forward Christine Flores 20.9 points and 7.8 rebounds/game and has 48 blocks and 17 steals; Senior Forward BreAnna Brock 15.9 points and 8.7 rebounds per game and 34 blocks.

Previously Play: The Lady Red Raiders played the Oklahoma Cowgirls at the USA on Jan. 4, 2012. Tech edged out a win over OSU 58-53. The Missouri Lady Tigers lost to the Baylor Bears in Waco, TX on Jan 4, 2012, 90-46.

Coaches: Kristy Curry is coaching her 6th season at Tech. (101-73). Robin Pingeton is entering her 2^nd season with the Missouri Lady Tigers (23-20).

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 Tigers finished the 2010-11 season 13-18, 5-11 and finished 12^th place in the Big12. Mizzou returned 8 Letterwinners (2 Starters) and have 5 newcomers.

Radio: Texas Tech Sports Network 97.3 FM (Lubbock) and Missouri KTGR 1580 AM, ESPN 100.5 FM

Gametracker: www.mutigers.com/gametracker/launch/

Streaming video: www.mutigers.com/allaccess/ (~ $10/month)

Listen: www.texastech.com/allaccess

Game Thread will go up at 3:45pm CST on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012

Other Notes:

Coach Kristy Curry had her 100^th win at Texas Tech on Dec 30, 2011 against San Diego.

Senior forward Kierra Mallard has 12 blocks in her last three games to bring her career total to 188. She had a season-high five blocks in Texas Tech's 58-53 win over Oklahoma State on Jan. 4, 2012.

The Lady Red Raiders lead the Big 12 Conference in offensive rebounds with 20.58 per game and are 2nd in the Big12 in rebounding defense (32.9) and in rebounding offense (48.2).

The Big 12 has two of the nation's six undefeated squads (Texas Tech and Baylor) and is the only league with more than one.

Four of the Big12 teams are ranked: Baylor #1, ATM #9, Tech #13 and Texas #23 with Kansas receiving votes.

***************************************************************

***************************************************************

***************************************************************