Texas Tech endures 6 straight losses, attendance down; now has wins over 2 top 15 teams

Texas Tech program struggling; attendance down

LUBBOCK, Texas — Gary Blair’s team had just lost to Texas Tech and he was angry.

The Texas A&M coach wasn’t upset about the game’s outcome.

“I would like to know where the Red Raider fans are,” said Blair, a Texas Tech alum. “Because this team deserves the people in the stands. Everybody goes through tough times.”

Texas Tech once was the envy of women’s programs across the country. The energy and enthusiasm of Lady Raiders fans made it a tough place to play. They had a Hall of Fame coach in Marsha Sharp, a West Texas native who took them to 16 straight NCAA tournaments, brought home a national title in 1993 and had a National Player of the Year in Sheryl Swoopes.

Sharp resigned in 2006, a year after the Lady Raiders last went to the NCAA tournament.

This season, the Lady Raiders (15-9, 3-7) have struggled in Big 12 play, including a six-game skid that stopped one loss shy of the program’s record set in 1978. And attendance has mirrored the struggles on the court.

Through the first 14 games this year, the announced average attendance was 7,082 fans, reflecting a tally of tickets sold. But there have been far fewer people in the stands: According to turnstile information obtained from the university, the average through the 14 games is just 1,943.

Earlier this season, 3,493 fans walked through the turnstiles of the 15,098-seat arena to see the Lady Raiders squander a 6-point lead with 22 seconds remaining against Texas to lose in double overtime.

Lubbock resident Melanie Hart wasn’t there. She dropped her season tickets after last year.

“Nobody really got into the games, crowd-wise,” said Hart, who remembers not being able to get a ticket in the 2003-04 season when Texas Tech hosted Texas. “Just wasn’t exciting.”

Coach Kristy Curry, who declined to be interviewed for this story, said after the A&M victory that she is keeping her focus narrow.

“I think the thing about it is we’re just going to focus on next season when the season is over and we’re just living in the moment right now,” Curry said.

Her boss, athletic director Gerald Myers, said Curry is working hard and that injuries have kept post players from contributing. Freshman Shauntal Nobles tore her Achilles heel in September and is out for the season. Starting center Kierra Mallard (12.6 points, 7.1 rebounds per game) was suspended indefinitely by Curry earlier this month.

“She’s more disappointed than anyone that we are having a hard year, and she’s doing everything in her power to turn it around,” Myers said of Curry.

Curry’s recruiting this year and last give Myers and Sharp hope.

“I think they’re on the right track,” she said. “It may be another year or two. I think (Curry) feels good about (the recruits) and they’re beginning to put themselves in a position to have a lot better chance to be consistent in Big 12 play.”

It can’t come soon enough for Blair, who said he built A&M’s program around what Texas Tech and Texas had done through the years.

“I used to love to come in here and there would be 3,000 fans here an hour-and-a-half before the ball game,” he said. “Don’t wait around for a winner.”

Sharp said she believes attendance is down because of the team’s record. And that can turn around quickly, she said.

She pointed to big crowds now showing up at No. 3 Nebraska, which wasn’t the case a few years .

“Most every place, people are going to follow a winner,” she said. “I think it’s hard for everybody. It’s hard for Kristy and it’s obviously hard for me. Honestly, it has more to do with the record in Big 12 play than anything.”

The team recently notched two wins over teams ranked in the top 15. The Lady Raiders beat Blair’s then-No. 13 Aggies 57-54 at home last week, and on Saturday the Lady Raiders won 65-57 at then-No. 15 Oklahoma State.

They play at No. 18 Baylor on Wednesday night.

“If they can win at Baylor, they’ll be on a roll, and I think they’ve got a real legitimate shot to get back in the mix,” Sharp said.

(This version SUBS 13th graf to correct typo, Shauntal sted Shauntel)