BY TERRY GREENBERG / AVALANCHE-JOURNAL – EDITOR

After watching the University of Texas-Arlington pull within three points at halftime, Kristy Curry challenged her Lady Raiders Saturday night.

Texas Tech responded with a strong defensive effort, holding the Mavericks to 12 points in the final half, sparking a 71-37 win over UTA Saturday night in the second day of the Basketball Travelers Tip-Off Tourney.

“I thought we set the tone defensively with more energy,” said Curry, Lady Raider head coach, of her team’s second-half effort. “We took care of the ball and executed better at both ends.”

Tech closes the tournament today at 2 p.m. against Prairie View A&M at United Spirit Arena. That game follows UTA vs. the University of San Francisco at noon. San Francisco beat Prairie View A&M 68-64 in the earlier game Saturday night.

Texas Tech's Kierra Mallard, right, blocks Donna Dike of University of Texas - Arlington, during the first half of their game Saturday at United Spirit Arena in Lubbock. Saturday, November 28, 2009 (Photo by Geoffrey McAllister/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)

The win moved the Lady Raiders to 4-1 on the season, UTA dropped to 2-3.

The Mavericks struggled early, shooting 20 percent from the field as Tech built a 13-2 lead. But the visitors heated up as the half went on, outscoring Tech 23-15 to pull within 28-25 at the break.

Both teams were led by one dominant player in the opening 20 minutes.
Kierra Mallard led Tech with 14 points. No other Raider had more than four. Mallard finished the game with 18 points.

Meghan Nelson led the Mavericks with 13 points. None of her teammates had more than five.

Curry said Mallard’s early dominance was not the game plan.

“We were trying to get everyone involved, but the perimeter players were very passive. Jordan (Murphree) needed to have a scorer’s mentality,” she said.

UTA coach Samantha Morrow said her team’s defensive effort helped them get back in the game late in the first half. But Tech’s defense and her team’s poor shooting in the second half doomed the Mavericks.

“You can’t shoot 17 percent and beat a junior high team,” she said.
“Tech made some good adjustments at halftime. We did too, but we didn’t execute,” she said.

Curry said she challenged her team at the break, especially senior Murphree.

“I challenged Jordan Murphree as a senior,” she said, adding she told her team the Mavericks have the added incentive of Texas athletes wanting to beat other Texas athletes.

After intermission, the Lady Raiders broke open the game as Mallard’s teammates started filling the basket.

Monique Smalls and Mallard scored layups to start the half.

Murphree stole a pass, drove to the basket and scored.
Mallard added two free throws.

Ashlee Roberson scored six straight points for Tech.

During the early second half run, the Mavericks helped Tech by committing three turnovers.

The Lady Raiders built their lead through the second half.

Murphree’s three-point shot with 6:58 to play put Tech up 54-33. A little more than two minutes later, that lead was 62-33 after a Christine Hyde layup.

Tech ended the game shooting 46.7 percent from the field, while UTA shot 25 percent.

The Lady Raiders dominated in the paint, scoring 38 points to UTA’s 18 and they outrebounded the Mavericks 47-36, with 15 second-chance points to UTA’s eight.

Mallard said her focus in the second half was “don’t let them score and get everyone involved.”

The game marked a return to United Spirit Arena for former Lady Raider Erin Grant, now a UTA assistant.

“She’s done a great job and she’s grown so much,” said Morrow, who’s had Grant on her staff all three seasons she’s been at UTA.

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