TCU Women Win Opener
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FORT WORTH, Texas – Sophomore guard Zahna Medley posted a double-double with 24 points and 10 assists to lead the TCU women’s basketball team to an 86-47 victory over Louisiana-Monroe in Saturday’s season opener at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum.
Medley was one of four Horned Frogs to score in double figures, as Natalie Ventress (12), Latricia Lovings (11) and Donielle Breaux (11) also reached double digits in the win.
The Springfield, Ill., native was nearly perfect on the night, going 8-of-11 from the field, 5-of-6 from 3-point range and 3-of-4 from the free-throw line while also snagging a career-best five steals in 33 minutes of action.
Medley connected on her first 3-pointer at the 14:31 mark of the first half to spark a 10-0 TCU run and helped the Frogs stretch their lead to an 18-7 advantage when she found Breaux for a fastbreak layup with 13:11 remaining.
The Warhawks battled back to trim the deficit to five before Ventress answered a ULM 3-pointer with her own and followed on the other end with a steal and dish to Breaux, who quickly padded the lead back to 10 points.
TCU continued to use its stifling defense to create offense, as freshman center Klara Bradshaw swatted one of three shots on the night and Medley found Ventress in transition for another 3-pointer as the Frogs jumped out to a 30-17 advantage.
Medley gave the Frogs plenty of cushion before the break, converting
an old fashioned 3-point play with just over a minute remaining before burying another triple with 10 seconds left for a 47-28 lead.
Medley drained her fifth trey on her fifth attempt with 16:45 remaining in the second half to push the TCU lead to 52-30 as the Frogs cruised the rest of the way.
Bradshaw made her first collegiate start, adding six points and five rebounds to go with her three blocks in 19 minutes, while sophomore forward Caitlin Diaz led the team with seven rebounds in 14 minutes.
TCU shot a blazing 52 percent (29-of-56) from the field, including a 59-percent mark (17-of-29) in the first half, while connecting on 9-of-19 3-pointers (47 percent).
The TCU defense forced 25 ULM miscues and grabbed 18 steals while winning the rebounding battle by a 41-37 margin.
TCU returns to action against rival SMU at 7 p.m., Wednesday at Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, Texas.
