UCI women’s basketball gets Texas Tech transfer

Judith Smith, a transfer from Texas Tech, has signed a scholarship agreement with the UC Irvine women’s basketball program, Anteaters Coach Molly Tuter announced Monday.

Smith, a 5-foot-9 guard, began her college career at Texas Tech, averaging 4.5 points over two seasons with the Red Raiders from 2004-06.

She posted a career-best 14 points against Rice and Ole Miss and recorded 10 points and a career-high six assists against Tennessee in the NCAA Sweet 16 as a sophomore.

Smith did not enroll in school during the 2006-07 season so she must sit out this year and will be eligible to play for the Anteaters in 2008-09.

The Long Beach native graduated from Long Beach Poly High in 2004. As a senior, she was named CIF Southern Section Co-Player of the Year. The Jackrabbits were CIF runners-up twice and state regional runner-up her senior season, when Smith averaged 18.2 points, 6.7 assists and 8.1 steals.

— From staff reports