TCU Women Lose At West Virginia

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MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The TCU women’s basketball team couldn’t overcome a slow start, falling to West Virginia by a score of 76-71 on Wednesday evening at WVU Coliseum.

Zahna Medley and Natalie Ventress each scored 14 points for the Horned Frogs, while Chelsea Prince and Veja Hamilton also scored in double figures with 13 and 12 points, respectively.

Trailing 39-27 at the half, the Horned Frogs (13-8, 5-5) tallied 44 points in the final 20 minutes but could only get to within four points late in the contest.

The Frogs struggled against the Mountaineers’ size in the opening half, getting doubled up on the glass by a 30-14 margin while shooting just 32 percent (10-31) for the 12-point halftime deficit.

TCU cut the WVU lead down to eight early in the second half before Bre McDonald posted back-to-back buckets, including a 3-point play, to put the Mountaineers up by 15 with 9:59 to play.

Trailing by 10 with under six minutes remaining, Jada Butts converted a pair of free throws and Medley found Ventress open in the corner for a 3-point to push TCU within five points.

WVU answered with four points before Ventress knocked down another 3-point bucket and Medley followed with a drive and layup to cut the deficit to 64-60 with 4:28 to play.

The Mountaineers battled back with five-straight points, capped by a 3-point play from Bria Holmes, to put the contest out of reach.

TCU shot 47 percent (16-of-34) in the second half, including all five of its 3-pointers on 10 attempts.

WVU’s Holmes led all scorers with 30 points, while Averee Fields registered a double-double with 13 points and 10 boards.

The Frogs return to action to play host to Texas Tech at 1 p.m., on Sunday at the University Recreation Center.