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Texas Tech head coach Kristy Curry probably knows Texas A&M better than most Big 12 Conference teams.
She has coached against the Aggies seven times, with Wednesday’s game against A&M at 7 p.m. in the United Spirit Arena being the latest chapter in the rivalry between the schools. But Tech is 1-6 against A&M since Curry’s arrival.
And this season may be the most difficult for Curry to turn her fortunes around against the Aggies.
“They’re as good as they’ve been,” she said. “I think it could be (Texas A&M coach Gary Blair’s) best team. I know that they’ve struggled a little more. As far as years past, I think it’s his deepest, most talented team.”
Tech (13-9, 1-7 in Big 12 play) returns home after being on the road for back-to-back games at Iowa State and Texas.
The month of February however, will provide a much different environment at home.
Tonight’s game will be the first of three Pink Treadmill Parties at Lady Raider home matches. The event will consist of members of the Lubbock community walking on Tech’s CYBEX Pink Treadmill for approximately four minutes to secure donations through, sponsors.
The Marsha Sharp Leadership Circle and the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund are teaming up to host the occasion and raise money to benefit both Tech female student-athletes and women’s cancer research, respectively.
So Tech forward Ashlee Roberson said being home will be uplifting.
“We’re back on our home floor. We’re just ready to play,” she said. “We’re playing back in front of our crowd. It’s a positive thing for us.”
But if Tech wants to steal a win against No. 13 A&M (16-5, 4-4), the Lady Raiders will have to try to stop Danielle Adams.
The last time the teams met, Adams did the most damage with 27 points and 12 rebounds.
She was one of three Aggies in double figures that day along with Tanisha Smith and Tyra White.
Not to mention Adams was being defended by Kierra Mallard, who will not be there this time around. Mallard has been suspended indefinitely.
Players know containing the 6-foot-1 Adams will be a difficult task.
“She’s a very great player, you’ve got to give credit to her,” Roberson said. “Overall, we’ve just got to play her straight up. She can put a hand in your face, block a shot, rebound. She’s an all around great player. We’ve just got to do our best in defending her.”
Even though the last meeting resulted in a 69-54 loss, Tech has performed better against Big 12 South opponents at home thus far.
The Lady Raiders lost to Oklahoma by 15 points in Norman, Okla., only to lose by four to OU the following match up at home. Against Texas at home, Tech pushed the game into double overtime and lost by five. In Austin, the Longhorns were too much to handle and the Lady Raiders took a 30-point drubbing.
So the Lady Raiders now have an opportunity to get one of their most significant wins of the season.
“The good thing is we’ve had a chance to play them once,” Curry said. “You draw from those experiences and you draw from the film that we have. It’s more about team defense, not putting so much emphasis on Adams that you forget about the (Sydney) Colsons, the (Sydney) Carters, the Whites, and the Smiths.
“Again, I think it’s his deepest, most talented team he’s had so far.”
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