A&M Wins First Game in Lubbock Since 1980

Jay Langley - Special to KLBK (Lubbock,TX) After her teams 49-47 loss to No. 19 Texas A&M Wednesday night at the United Spirit Arena, Lady Raider coach Kristy Curry said her teams recent struggles can be attributed to two things. "I thought it was a lack of concentration and mental toughness down the stretch," Curry said. "Obviously you dont miss 13 free throws and beat a top 20 team." Senior forward Alesha Robertson led Tech with 14 points and 14 rebounds. But Robertson was just 4-18 from the floor. Tech (10-7, 1-2) was 9 of 22 from the free throw line and shot just 29 percent from the floor. "Well keep working on free throws and well do everything as a staff to put them in a position to make them," Curry said. "Im not sure why thats gone away, theres been games when weve made them and games where we havent." The win was the first in Lubbock for A&M (11-3, 1-1) since 1980 and was a sort of homecoming for Aggies coach Gary Blair, a Tech graduate. "This was fun," Blair said. "Yall dont know how much I respect Texas Tech University. Its hard going against your alma mater. Theyve been one of the guiding lights for all the other programs on how to put a basketball program. You might not be a top 25 basketball team right now but youre always going to be a top 10 program." Neither team had a lead of more than six points Wednesday night. With one minute to play and the game tied at 47 A&M forward Morenike Atunrase beat Techs Chesley Dabbs to the hole for the games final basket. "That is only the first big time move shes made in the time that shes come back (from injury)," Blair said. "Where she planted it and it hurt and she did that step through move. Folks, she always uses the glass on that shot, so dont think that was a luck shot. Thats her shot." Tech called a time out with 14 seconds to play and a chance to tie or win the game. "Obviously we were trying to get Chesley off a stager move there at the end and we had Alesha on a slip which we drew up," Curry said of the last possession. "We were also there the last couple of seconds with .5 and wanted to throw it up and get a chance around the rim to see if we could get fouled." With .5 seconds left freshman Jordan Murphrees desperation 3-point attempt from just inside half-court bounced off the rim giving A&M the win. "I think the thing we gotta do is just keep going and keep shooting it or we wont ever get a chance to make it," Robertson said. "I just think we have to go in and rebound and play defense and try to get to the hole." Curry said if she can take anything positive from the loss it would be her teams defensive effort. "I dont think theres any question that defensively we put ourselves in a position to win," Curry said. "But we lacked concentration and toughness tonight." The Lady Raiders next travel to Oklahoma to visit the Sooners Sunday at 2 p.m