TCU
UNLV
Lady Frogs Hold Off UNLV Comeback Bid
1/10/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 10, 2009
LAS VEGAS, Nev.—TCU saw an 18-point first-half lead evaporate in the game's final minute, but the Lady Frogs made crucial plays when they needed to hold off UNLV, 66-61, Saturday at the Rebels' Cox Pavilion.
The victory moved the Frogs' season record to 10-5 and 2-0 in Mountain West Conference play. UNLV dropped to 7-8 and 0-2 in MWC action.
Sophomore guard Helena Sverrisdottir iced the victory with eight seconds left on the clock by sinking a pair of free throws to give the Frogs a two-possession lead. The points ended a 5-0 UNLV run that started after junior guard TK LaFleur had given the Frogs an eight-point lead on a crucial 3-pointer with 2:18 remaining.
LaFleur once again led the TCU scoring attack with 20 points, seven rebounds and four assists. The effort marked her fifth 20-point contest of the season. Boosting her scoring total was a 5-for-10 showing from 3-point range.
Sophomore guard Emily Carter also was heated up from long range, as she made 4-of-7 attempts for 16 point. Including Wednesday's road win at Colorado State, Carter is 10 for her last 14 from behind the arc. She added a career-best six assists Saturday.
Also reaching double figures was junior guard Eboni Mangum, who went 4-of-7 from the field. Sverrisdottir totaled a game-high eight assists to go with eight points, while sophomore forward Rachel Rentschler pulled down a team-best eight rebounds.
The Rebels were led by center Shamela Hampton, who registered 20 points and 14 boards. Forward Jamie Smith alto had a double-double for UNLV with 13 points and 11 boards.
UNLV hit four 3-pointers in the first eight minutes of the second half to cut into a 14-point TCU halftime lead. Smith's second trey of the period cut the advantage to only seven points, 46-39, with 11:55 to play.
The Frogs responded by scoring 10 of the game's next 14 points, but still were unable to shake the Rebels. UNLV put together an 11-3 run to move back to within five points of TCU, but LaFleur's clutch 3-pointer at the 2:18 mark gave the Frogs an eight-point advantage.
Much of the work from TCU's victory came in the first half, when the squad built a lead as large as 18 points. The Frogs hit 7-of-15 attempts from behind the arc while limiting UNLV to only 20 percent from long range (3-of-15), and the squad's zone defensive look forced the Rebels into 12 turnovers in the half. TCU itself committed only four miscues in the period.
TCU took an early double-digit lead while doubling up the Rebels, 20-10, only eight minutes into the game. A 13-2 run keyed by five points from Mangum and two easy layups inside the paint by freshman forward Tolu Omotola put the Frogs squarely in control. The Rebels were held without a field goal for six minutes until guard Brittany Halberg drilled her third 3-pointer of the half, but Carter answered with a trey of her own on the ensuing TCU possession for a 12-point Frog lead.
LaFleur added a pair of 3's on consecutive possessions near the six-minute mark, with Mangum drilling her second of the half the next time down the floor to push the advantage to 17, 34-17.
TCU recorded its 18-point advantage thanks to a LaFleur trey at the 2:45 mark. UNLV closed the half on a four-point run to send the Frogs to the locker room with a 37-23 advantage.
The Lady Frogs return home for their MWC home opener on Tuesday, when they play host to BYU in a matchup of league unbeatens at 6:30 p.m. The game will be televised on The Mountain West Sports Network (The Mtn.) which is available nationwide on DirecTV, channel 616.
Players Mentioned
