Lady Raiders Get Another Exhibition Win

Jay Langley - Special to KLBK.com (Lubbock)After an 84-44 exhibition win over Athletes in Action Sunday Lady Raider coach Kristy Curry said she thinks her team is ready for the start of the regular season. "What I like about this team is the fact that they want to get better every day and they are right now and we have got to continue and maintain that." The Lady Raiders started slow Sunday with AIA taking an early six point lead. But with 10:21 left in the first half Erin Myrick scored in the post giving Tech their first lead at 16-14. The Lady Raiders never relinquished the lead on their way to the 40 point victory. "I thought the intensity from about the 12 minute mark of the first half was pretty special and I thought we were able to maintain that for the entire half and pretty much the second half," Curry said. "I thought it said a lot about our team the way we came out in the second half." Tech was led by four players in double figures including Myrick who recorded a team high 16 points on 6-9 from the floor. Tech outscored AIA 34-16 in the paint. "Well the coaches were saying the last time that I only got three shots the last game and I needed to get more shots," Myrick said. "My teammates gave me the ball and thankfully I was able to respond." Freshman guard Jordan Murphree got the first collegiate start of her career adding 14 points and a team high three steals. "It was very nervous at first but I had my teammates there," Murphree said about starting her first game at Tech. "They helped me out. They just told me to calm down and it would work out." Two things Curry said she was happy with was the overall defensive effort and the effort from the bench. Tech had 12 steals and only allowed AIA to shoot 32.6 percent from the floor. "I thought our hands were up and they were more active," Curry said. "I thought our ball pressure was really good. We looked like we improved from out last game and thats huge. Our offense has got to happen because of our defense so I was very pleased with it today." Every Tech player in uniform scored against AIA with Raquel Christian leading Tech off of the bench with 13 points including 4-5 from three point range. "I think our bench gave us a good spark," Curry said. "When you come off the bench youve got to be a spark. Youve got to loose ball, a rebound, a box out. Do a little thing that can become a big thing." For the game Tech was 9-17 as a team from beyond the arc led by Christian. "I think one this is we want them to feel like if their open to shoot the ball," Curry said. "I want them to stop worrying about missed shots and worry about the next shot. We have all the confidence in the world in them. If theyre open we want them to take a shot." Tech opens the season Friday at 7 p.m. against Texas-San Antonio at the United Spirit Arena. "UT-SA is going to throw a lot of junk at us like a triangle and two or a box and one," Curry said. "Today was just a really big blessing in disguise for us in a lot of ways and we responded."