In 16 seconds Sunday, Ashlee Roberson picked off a pass for a fastbreak layup, then did it again to give Texas Tech an early 8-point lead against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

By game’s end, she didn’t even remember the back-to-back plays.

Texas Tech (2-1) cruised to a 97-57 win at the United Spirit Arena, thanks to impressive performances by Roberson and fellow Tech senior Jordan Murphree.

“I thought our seniors, Jordan and Ashlee, played really, really hard and set the tone early,” coach Kristy Curry said. “I thought our kids came out tonight with a lot of energy.”

Texas Tech's Jordan Murphree (13) rebounds her shot against Arkansas Pine Bluff's Amanda Hammond (3) and Shavondra Holmes (20) and fouled by Tayla Vaughn (15) during their game Sunday at United Spirit Arena. (Merissa Ferguson/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)

Texas Tech's Christine Hyde (5) looks for a pass against the defense of Arkansas Pine Bluff's Shavondra Holmes (20) and Amanda Hammond (3) during their game Sunday at United Spirit Arena. (Merissa Ferguson/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)

Roberson went 9-of-12 shooting to finish with 21 points, one shy of her career high. Her five steals tied a career best.

The forward averaged 8.5 points in Tech’s first two games.

“I felt the team played very well defensively,” Roberson said. “At times we were a little off-key, but I’m proud of everybody.”

Murphree was one of three other Raiders to finish in double digit scoring; freshman Marissa Ashton had 14 points, while Murphree and Kierra Mallard each added 11. But it was Murphree’s defensive performance that characterized her night; the guard from Brock had 9 rebounds, 2 steals and a block against the Lady Lions (0-4).

Murphree, a four-year starter, played a season-low 21 minutes as Tech at points had double Pine Bluff’s score.

The Lady Raiders shot 50 percent from the field and 56.5 percent from 3-point range, thanks in part to great accuracy shooting in transition. Tech’s emphasis in practice this week was improving its communication.
It led to 25 assists—7 of them from Murphree—which bested the season high by 9 boards and more than doubled the 2008-09 average.

Tech took its first big lead thanks to Roberson’s two steal-and-layup combinations, which made it 10-2 three minutes, 5 seconds into the game. By halftime the Lady Raiders were up 44-27, having scored 18 points off turnovers.

“You have to be careful, because they’re so athletic sometimes being undisciplined is their strength,” Curry said. “We want to make sure we’re not too undisciplined. I thought we were able to slow down and execute the first half.”

While Curry knew the Lions had speed on their side, Tech worked its height in the paint. Each team had 26 rebounds in the first half, but Tech won the battle of the boards 25-11 in the second.

The Lady Raiders scored 34 points in the paint, while the Lady Lions had just 20.

“I think we worked well with our height advantage,” Mallard said. “We just have to work on picking and stuff, hedging and stuff, but overall we did well.”

In the midst of a 7-game homestand, Tech opens the Basketball Travelers Tip-Off Tourney on Friday. It will host San Francisco, Texas-Arlington and Prairie View A&M next Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

“We need to get our footing a little bit, get our feet under us,” Curry said. “We need to continue to work on the little things, get as many minutes as we can for everybody to see how they’re going to respond.”