TCU
Sam Houston State
Frogs Pull Away from Bearkats, 83-65
12/20/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 20, 2009
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FORT WORTH—Junior guard Emily Carter led three Lady Frogs in double figures with 24 points Sunday, as TCU defeated Sam Houston State 83-65 at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum. The contest marked the team's only contest in 19 days stretching through the upcoming holiday break.
TCU, which never trailed in the game, improved to 8-3 with its third straight victory and is 5-0 this season against teams from the state of Texas. Only one other time in program history has the squad been perfect with at least five matchups against in-state rivals (also 5-0 in 2001-02).
Carter tied her career high in scoring for the second time in three games, as she also led the Frogs to an 84-66 road victory at SMU Dec. 9 with 24 points. The 6-1 lefthander had a career high nine field goals on only 15 attempts, while she also went 5-of-7 at the free-throw line. Freshman forward Starr Crawford and senior guard TK LaFleur chipped in 14 and 12 points respectively.
TCU managed to shoot 40.2 percent from the field for the game, but it was the team's work on the glass and the defensive end that helped propel TCU to victory. In addition to forcing 29 Bearkat turnovers, TCU pulled down 57 rebounds, its most in a game since a Feb. 7, 2005 victory over Saint Louis. Crawford and sophomore Antoinette Thompson each pulled down nine rebounds, while LaFleur and junior guard/forward Helena Sverrisdottir added eight boards apiece.
Sverrisdottir became only the ninth career member of TCU's 500-rebound club with her fourth board of the first half.
Guard Ray Alexander and forward Whitney Smith led Sam Houston State's offensive attack with 18 and 13 points, respectively.
After leading by 12 points at halftime and as many as 15 points overall in the opening period, TCU saw the Bearkats rally from the opening tip of the second half. SHSU recorded the first seven points after intermission and held the Frogs off the scoreboard for more than four minutes to climb back within five points, 46-41.
The Frogs responded with 18 of the game's next 24 points to move ahead by 17. Crawford totaled six points during the run, while LaFleur, Carter and Thompson added four each.
TCU put the game away late after the Kats had closed to within 10 points with a 9-2 run that ended at the six-minute mark. The Frogs followed by scoring 14 of the next 16 points to push in front by a comfortable 23-point margin with only 1:33 to play.
Carter led the Frogs in the first half with 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting, while adding a 4-for-5 effort at the charity stripe. TCU shot only 40.9 percent from the field in the opening stanza, but it posted a 19-8 edge in points off turnovers due to 19 first-half Bearkat miscues.
TCU featured two graduates on the court Sunday, as seniors Chantelle John and Eboni Mangum each received degrees in communications during Saturday's Commencement exercises.
TCU returns to action following its holiday break Dec. 31 at Houston. The matchup with the Cougars is set to tip off at 1 p.m.
Players Mentioned
