 "Photo: File photo")
Kierra Mallard is the tallest player on the Texas Tech roster.
So the Lady Raiders’ starting lineup took a hit when Tech head coach Kristy Curry made the announcement Saturday to suspend the 6-foot-3 center indefinitely for undisclosed reasons.
Her absence leaves the Lady Raiders with a smaller team, but Curry said her players will make up for the loss with smart play.
“We’re going to have to make sure that we try to do all the little things that can make a big difference,” she said. “Really defend smart, really rebound smarter, do a better job of taking advantage of our strengths.”
No timeline has been set for when Mallard may return to the team.
When asked about Mallard’s status, Curry said it is something she’s working with every day.
“We’re taking it one day at a time right now,” she said. “It’s just a day by day. We’re staying the course here.”
In the mean time, Tech turns to forwards Jordan Barncastle and Marissa Ashton to fill Mallard’s shoes.
The two may be expected to form a rotation in the post, which is a change considering the two have been reserves to this point.
Prior to the suspension, neither started a game and Ashton only played in 18 of the team’s 21 games at the time.
Their first opportunity to make a statement came against Texas on Sunday in Austin.
Barncastle was awarded the start and racked up two points in 25 minutes of playing time.
A bigger impact was made by Ashton, who came off the bench to score eight points and grab three rebounds in 20 minutes of action.
Tech forward Ashlee Roberson said Ashton’s intensity off the bench was a plus for the team.
“She did a very good job,” she said. “She came in and got some really big boards, hit a couple of big shots. She really helped us, I thought her energy off the bench was really great. You couldn’t ask for more from Marissa, she’s a very great player.”
But Mallard’s presence was still missed — the Longhorns handed the Lady Raiders an 81-51 loss.
Things may only get tougher with the team’s upcoming schedule.
The Lady Raiders host Texas A&M on Wednesday and travel to Baylor on Feb. 17. The Aggies are fourth in Big 12 play with 14.62 offensive rebounds per game, while Baylor ranks first with 31.68 rebounds per game on the defensive end.
Both A&M and Baylor suit up nine players 6-foot or taller, while Tech has only three available.
But that isn’t a concern for Curry, who said her players are capable of making up for size with courage.
“You can’t make up for inches but you can sure make up with the size of your heart and mind,” she said. “I feel like between those two and Ashlee, they’ll be able to do that. They’re going to give everything they’ve got and try to do it, so that’s important.”
2 comments
Question. Has Curry considered working SMARTER on her act and becoming a SPORTS RAPPER? She can yack up a storm about doing all the little things to make the team a winner................WITHOUT ACTUALLY WINNING. We hear that EVERY week. Might as well take this act on the road and share that Evil Eye that seems to stun the Lady Raiders into paralysis.