TCU Women Fall Short To South Dakota State
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PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico – Zahna Medley rattled off a season-best 27 points but the TCU women’s basketball team couldn’t overcome shooting woes, falling to South Dakota State by a score of 57-52 on Wednesday evening at the Hardwood Tournament of Hope at Puerto Vallarta International Convention Center.
The Horned Frogs saw their three-game winning streak snapped to drop to 4-2 overall this season, while the Lady Jacks improved to 4-2 on the season.
Medley’s 27-point effort was highlighted by a 5-of-12 performance from 3-point range and a career-best 10 free throws on 14 attempts while also matching a career high with five steals in 36 minutes.
Senior center Latricia Lovings wreaked havoc on the defensive side, grabbing eight rebounds while swatting a season-high six shots to go with a career-best five steals in 33 minutes of action.
The Frogs led for much of the first half, stretching its largest lead of seven points following one of Medley’s five 3-pointers with 6:52 remaining until the break.
South Dakota State answered with a 14-4 run to take a 3-point advantage before freshman forward Jada Butts halted the rally with an offensive rebound and putback and Medley followed with a bucket from distance with just over seven seconds left for a 30-29 TCU advantage at the half.
The Lady Jacks quickly took over the game to begin the final 20 minutes, drilling two 3-pointers to jump out to a 40-33 advantage at the 15:53 mark.
The Frogs fought back and clawed to within two points after a Medley trey before
junior guard Natalie Ventress put TCU back on top with a 3-point bucket for a 47-46 advantage with 6:52 remaining.
TCU would go cold from there, missing numerous opportunities around the basket as the Lady Jacks stretched their advantage back out to a 56-48 lead with just over 30 seconds remaining.
Following a pair of Medley free throws, junior forward Chelsea Prince stole the inbounds pass and converted the layup, giving TCU its first field goal in over six minutes to close the SDSU lead to four points with 10.5 seconds left.
Prince would again steal the ensuing inbounds pas, but the Frogs couldn’t get a shot to fall in the closing seconds.
The Frogs’ defense shined once again, limiting SDSU to 28-percent (15-of-54) shooting from the field while forcing 24 turnovers with 19 steals.
TCU was plagued by its shooting with just a 19-percent (14-of-73) effort from the field.
The Frogs conclude the Hardwood Tournament of Hope at 6:30 p.m., CST on Thursday against No. 18/22 Purdue.
