TCU Women Fall To Texas State
FORT WORTH, Texas – TCU pulled within one with a minute to play Saturday afternoon, but in the end couldn’t make enough plays down the stretch as Texas narrowly escaped Daniel-Meyer Coliseum with a 61-56 victory.
With 23 seconds left in a game that was powered by runs, the Frogs appeared to be well on their way to recording their first conference victory of the year when freshman Kamy Cole drove to the hole and drew two defenders, but her pass just missed the out-stretched arms of Latricia Lovings and scampered out of bounds. After a couple of free throws by Texas’ Imani McGee-Stafford, Zahna Medley tried one last time to send the game into overtime, but her three-point shot was blocked with 10 seconds to go in the game.
With the loss, TCU fell to 7-13 overall and 0-9 in league play, while the Longhorns improved to 9-11 overall and 2-7 in Big 12 action.
On the day, the Horned Frogs, who led by as many as 11 in the game, amped up their defensive pressure, forcing UT into 19 turnovers, while limiting the Longhorns to only 19 made field goals for the entire game. TCU held a 12-5 advantage in fast break points.
The Horned Frogs were led on the day by Natalie Ventress’ 16 points. The sophomore scored all
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16 of her points in the second half. Cole and Medley were other notables on the day with 12 and 10 points apiece, respectively. The duo combined to score 18 of the Frogs’ 23 first half points.
Texas did most of its damage down low Saturday as McGee-Stafford and Nneka Enemkpali accounted for 39 of UT’s 61 points. The tandem also grabbed 13 boards apiece, respectively.
TCU opened the second half on a 4-0 run as Ventress knocked down four-straight, including a three ball in the corner, which gave the Frogs a 28-26 lead during the opening stages of the second frame of play. The two teams would go back and fourth the next couple of trips down the court until Texas regained the lead at 33-28 with 15:50 showing on the clock.
Ashley Colbert ended the mini-run for the Longhorns when Medley looped the ball over and found the sophomore for the bucket. A few plays later, Ventress tickled the twine from deep to pull the Frogs within 37-33 midway through.
TCU was in the midst of a 10-0 run when Ventress gave the Frogs a 40-37 lead with a deep corner three at the 11:14 mark of the second half. The sophomore scored eight of the Frogs’ 10 points during the run. Texas would not back down though, tying the game at 43-43 a few minutes later.
The Longhorns proceeded to take a 53-43 lead off their own 10-0 run before Cole drained a three-pointer to cut into the Texas attack with 4:43 showing on the scoreboard.
Lovings then took over, swatting away a shot by Celina Rodrigo on one end and finding a bucket on the other. A few plays later, Ventress pulled the Frogs within one at the 2:05 mark by drilling a triple, which seemed to ignite the crowd and make the scoreboard read 53-51.
The Longhorns clawed their way back to take a slight 57-53 lead, but the young and pesky Horned Frogs would not give in, cutting it to one when Medley found Lovings down low for a tough three-point play at the 1:03 mark. That was as close as TCU would get down the stretch.
Cole got the Frogs going early as Medley dished it to the fellow freshman in the corner for an opening bucket. A few plays later, Medley took the rock and drove the lane for a layup, which gave TCU a 4-0 lead during the opening stages of the first half. The Purple and White continued their offensive onslaught on the very next possession as Medley swiped a Longhorn on one end and then found Cole on the run out.
By the time the Brock native tickled the twine from deep at the 17:03 mark, the Frogs had jumped out to a 9-0 lead, while holding Texas 0-for-4 from the field. TCU’s defense did most of the damage during the opening run, forcing three turnovers, while not allowing Texas to score until the 15:58 mark of the first half.
Back-to-back trey balls by Cole and Donielle Breaux halfway through the opening half increased the Frog lead to 14-3. Cole opened the game scoring nine of the Frogs’ 14 points. Texas continued to battle though, pulling within 14-6, but Medley would have nothing of it, cashing in on a jumper to move the Purple and White lead back to 10 with 11:23 showing on the scoreboard.
With score 16-10 in favor of the Frogs, Medley continued her offensive production, draining a triple at the 9:14 mark. Texas fought back to take a 26-21 lead off a 16-5 run until Breaux drove the lane and hit a running floater to pull the Frogs within three at the break.
TCU will next be in action at Oklahoma State on Tuesday, Feb. 5.
