As the Texas Tech women’s basketball team awaits one of its biggest tests of the non-conference schedule, one Lady Raider is closing in on a milestone.

Senior Jordan Murphree is seven points shy of her 1,000th career point, and she’ll look to earn that and more against UCLA at the Pauley Pavilion tonight at 9 p.m. CST.

As tremendous of an achievement as it would be to join the select group of 25 others who have reached 1,000 career points at Texas Tech, Murphree is keeping her focus on the court and on UCLA (5-3).

Texas Tech's Jordan Murphree is 7 points away from 1,000 for her career with the Red Raiders. Tech travels to UCLA tonight to face the Bruins. (John A. Bowersmith/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)

“There’s been a lot of good athletes here,” Murphree said, rattling off the names of Sheryl Swoopes and Alicia Thompson, to name a few. “There’s a bunch of good people on that list. But those points will come. If it takes me getting seven points to get the win, then that’s big. This is our first road game and I want to go out and get a win.”

The Lady Raiders (8-1) did face Tennessee on the road, but that game was at a neutral court in San Antonio. With that 91-53 loss out of sight and out of mind, Murphree said tonight will be an opportunity for the Lady Raiders to gauge their progress this season.

The Bruins lost a hard-fought game to Tennessee, 61-47, in Knoxville on Nov. 28 in which UCLA had the lead at halftime. The Bruins were then challenged with another road test against then-No. 23 Kansas and lost 54-49.

Despite their 5-3 record, the Bruins have proven that they can compete with some of the top teams in the nation.

“They like to press and go and that’s how they’re going to get their points,” Murphree said. “And I think we need to match their intensity.

“I think it’s going to be a big test for a lot of these young kids,” Murphree added, referring to the team’s eight freshmen and sophomores. “It’s their first time at a road game, so I think it’s a good experience for those young kids.”

Murphree has scored 104 points this season and is averaging more per game than she did in her previous three seasons. She has also scored in double figures in six of the team’s nine games, including the last three, in which she is averaging 15 points.

As usual, Curry isn’t treating UCLA any differently than the team’s previous opponents, in terms of both preparation and practice, but she acknowledged how tough a test it will be.

Former McDonald’s All-American Jasmine Dixon, who transferred to UCLA from Rutgers at the beginning of the year, made her debut for the Bruins on Tuesday night against UC Santa Barbara. She scored a game-high 19 points and snared 10 rebounds.

UCLA has three more starters averaging in double figures as well.

“They go nine deep and average 20 minutes a game,” Curry said of UCLA’s lineup. “It’s just a great opportunity for us to get on the road and be in a Big 12 situation. They love to press and their defense is their best offense, so we’re going to have to minimize our turnovers and make good shots.

“Good or bad, we’ll learn a lot from it.”

And as for Murphree’s 1,000th point, Curry is already invested.

“I’ve already got the ball ordered,” she said. “So I hope she gets seven and many more at UCLA.”