“Mo” Game

The Lady Raiders struggled with the game staying pretty much tied in the 1^st period. Tech only had a 45.5% FG and could not get a 3-Ptr until the last couple minutes. The positives were the FT % was improved at 57% and the points off Turnovers.

At the 4 minute mark, the Lady Raiders got serious and started to push to the basket. Tech took the first and only lead at the 2:37 mark with a 3-Ptr by Monique Smalls but then the Lobos responded with their own 3-Ptr from Caroline Durbin ....Tying the game 27-27.

Smalls got another 3-Ptr with 23 seconds remaining in the half but the Lobos had two good lay-ups and two FT points to go into half-time with a 3 point lead over the Lady Raiders. New Mexico was dominating the boards with 22 rebounds compared to Tech's 10.

Half-time score: Tech 30 NM 33.

Smalls had a record night with 15 points at the half. Sophomore Guard Amber Battle was also having a good night with 6 points, 3 Steals and 2 Blocks. Chynna Brown, Casey Morris, Jackie Patterson and Mary Bokenkamp all struggled to get a FG. Brown and Morris had a very bad half with no points or rebounds. Brown averages over 8 ppg and Morris averages over 10 ppg.

Texas Tech just could not make any adjustments in the 2^nd half. There FG% continued to wane to 33.3% and they trailed in the battle for Rebounds with the Lobos.

Tech came out strong directly after the half. They were more aggressive but still trailed New Mexico. Smalls took matters into her own hands and with her speed used lay-ups and 3-Ptrs to keep the score close. At the 15 minute mark, Smalls broke her own FG record of 15 points by getting 17 points.

Kelsi Baker and Christine Hyde added to the effort in the 2^nd half with 7pts and 8 pts respectively.

But then Baker fouled out with 8.5 minutes left in the game.

At the 5 minute mark, the Lady Raiders kicked the energy into gear and got a couple of aggressive lay-ups to drop and a couple of Steals to get within 5 points. But the Lobos dominated the boards and kept the score just out of reach of the Lady Raiders.

Tech had a chance in the last minute of the game and got the game to two baskets but Tech just could not get the shots to drop.

Monique Smalls finished the game with 22 pts, 4 Steals and 5 Rebounds. Two other Lady Raiders finished in double-digits, Amber Battle had 12 pts and Hyde had 10pts and both had 3 Steals. Baker fished with 9 points.

The Rebounding was awful and pretty much sums up why Tech lost this game. The Lobos finished the game with 42 (18/24) Rebounds compared to the Lady Raiders 33 (14/19).

Final Score: Texas Tech 61 New Mexico 65