Sharpshooting is old hat for Lady Raiders' Brown

Chynna Brown loves hats.

When asked how many hats she owns, Brown pondered for all of three seconds.

“Twenty-eight, and that’s here,” she said of the hats she brought to school. “Back home? So many. I really don’t know. Too many to count.”

Texas Tech’s sophomore guard takes pride in the collection, which includes everything from baseball caps, winter hats and everything in between.

“I love hats,” she said, “especially when I’m having a bad hair day. I have to, you know, put one of those on.”

Tech coach Kristy Curry called Brown the best-dressed player on the team. She loves to see which of Brown’s countless hats she will bring on the road.

Brown also collects Air Jordan basketball shoes. She gets almost every new pair, including two more this past Christmas.

Her favorite hat often changes, but right now it’s her Oakland A’s baseball cap with the standard green and gold color scheme.

“Every time we go to the mall, the first place she goes is the shoe store or hat store,” senior forward Teena Wickett said. “Her closet is so full of Jordans and hats.”

Throughout the last month, Brown’s style on the court has come dangerously close to exceeding her style off of it.

The 5-foot-8 Dallas native is one of the best catch-and-shoot players in the Lady Raiders’ arsenal, able to bury mid-range jumpers with lethal efficiency.

The team runs a two-minute, 3-point shooting drill four times a week in which players need to sink five shots from each of five spots around the perimeter.

Brown routinely finishes the drill, spurring Tech coaches to encourage her to shoot — from anywhere on the court.

“She nearly finishes the drill every time,” Curry said. “I’ve been looking at her like, ‘Look, shoot the ball more! Shoot the three.’”

And Brown listened. She knocked down a clutch 3-pointer in Tech’s 78-65 victory against Pittsburgh. She scored 11 points and grabbed six rebounds the following day in a 50-43 victory against California to help the Lady Raiders sweep the Holiday Hoops Classic in Las Vegas.

Since Dec. 1, a span of seven games, Brown is shooting 52 percent and averaging nine points and five rebounds off the bench.

“She’s definitely playing her best all-around basketball right now,” Curry said.

Brown has taken the success in stride. She said she’s healthier than she’s ever been and having better practices as a result.

She’s seen at least 20 minutes of playing time in four of Tech’s last five games and was instrumental in spurring Tech to a road victory against Western Kentucky last week. She tallied career highs of 16 points and eight rebounds.

“I just feel like when it’s my turn to come in the game, I just try to bring as much energy as I can,” Brown said. “Go in there and try to get a rebound, assist or just set a good screen to get my teammates open.”

Her teammates certainly appreciate the effort.

Starting guard Casey Morris said there’s no letdown when Brown enters the game.

As impressed as Wickett has been with Brown’s fashion, she said Brown’s play on the court has been dazzling.

“She’s so athletic and she goes to the boards hard,” Wickett said. “She can out-jump any guard that I know. I think people overlook her, but she’s so good on the court.”

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