TCU Women Drop Conference Opener To SDSU
SAN DIEGO, Calif. – TCU dropped its conference opener Wednesday night, falling to San Diego State at Viejas Arena, 61-46. The loss marked the first time since 2006 that the Horned Frogs have lost a conference opener and snapped a two-game winning streak over the Aztecs.
TCU, now 7-9 on the year and 0-1 in the Mountain West, appeared on its way to getting back in the contest late in the game Wednesday, pulling within 13 on an 8-2 run in the closing minutes, but the Aztecs Kiyana Stamps nailed two three’s down the stretch to give SDSU, who is now 11-4 on the season and 1-0 in conference play, only its second win over the Purple and White in five tries.
In a game that saw five ties and 12 lead changes, TCU couldn’t get over the hump Wednesday night, despite forcing 17 turnovers and limiting SDSU to only 33 percent from the field, including only seven made field goals for 21.9 percent in the first half.
Antoinette Thompson led the way for the Frogs with 13 points and seven boards. Whitney Williams chipped in with nine points, which included the junior going 6-for-6 from the free throw line, which are both season-highs.
Chelsea Hopkins carried San Diego State with only her second career double-double with a 17-point, 13 board outing. Stamps followed with 16 points, which included several key triples late in the game.
Thompson opened the second half scoring the first four points for the Horned Frogs, including a nice running lay-up that drew a three-point play and brought the score to 26-24 early on in the period. On the very next possession, Williams dialed it up from deep to give TCU, who’s defensive pressure held SDSU without a bucket for nearly the first 4 minutes of the second half, a one-point advantage at 27-26.
Following a 19-3 run by the Aztecs, which made the score 46-29, Briesha Wynn found the bottom of the net from the corner to halt the SDSU offense for a moment. Thompson would score on a lay-up a couple of trips later to try and rally the Frogs, but the Aztecs were able to fizzle TCU’s mini-run.
The Frogs stormed back off a put-back off a board by Thompson at the 5:42 mark, which was followed by a three by Williams to pull TCU within 14 at 52-38 with 4 minutes, 58 seconds remaining in the contest. During that stretch, the Purple and White forced two-straight turnovers and cranked up the defensive pressure to inch their way back into the game.
Wynn drove the rock to the hole in the final minutes and powered home a three-point play with 2:10 left to go in the contest. The three-point play brought TCU within 13 at 54-41, but the Aztecs’ Stamps calmly drilled one of her three three-pointers on the night to push the SDSU lead back to 16 on the scoreboard.
Down 3-0 early, Thompson found Williams wide open at the top of the arc. The junior promptly tickled the twine from deep to tie the game at 3-3. Wynn then scored on a scoop shot a few moments later to pull TCU within one at 8-7 with a little over 13 minutes to go in the opening frame.
Ashley Colbert would give TCU its first lead on a jumper at the 10:43 mark, but the two teams would trade possessions the next couple of trips down the court with Colbert scoring four of the Horned Frogs next six points to regain the Frog lead at 13-12 with a little over 9 minutes to go in the half.
With San Diego State up 18-13, Delisa Gross drilled a triple from above the arc to pull the Frogs within two with 5:42 left to go in the half. Following a Thompson free throw, SDSU would go on an 8-1 run, but Natalie Ventress cooled the Aztez run, connecting on a couple of free throws to bring the halftime score to 26-20.
TCU will return to action on Saturday against Colorado State. Tip-off is set for 3:30 p.m. CT from Daniel-Meyer Coliseum.
