TCU
Utah
Defense Carries No. 25 TCU to Win over Utes
1/9/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 9, 2010
Final Stats | Quotes | Notes
FORT WORTH—Freshman forward Starr Crawford scored 15 points and pulled down eight boards to help lead No. 25 TCU to an impressive 62-41 victory over visiting Utah Saturday at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum. The Lady Frogs recorded their seventh straight victory overall and 15th consecutive win at the DMC.
TCU improved to 12-3 overall and 2-0 in Mountain West Conference play. The Frogs have now started 2-0 in the league in four of their five seasons as members of the MWC.
Leading from tip-off until finish, TCU jumped on top of the Utes from the outset Saturday. The squad ran out to a 14-point advantage in the game's opening seven minutes, 20-6, and led by as many as 18 points overall in the first half. Utah was never able to cut its deficit to single digits during the remainder of the game. After the lead shrank to only 11 with 11:10 left in the contest, TCU responded with a 17-2 spurt that virtually sealed the victory.
The key to TCU's performance was a defensive effort that ranked as one of its best in recent memory. The Frogs forced 21 Utah turnovers and held the squad to only 13-of-47 (27.7 percent) shooting from the field. The 41 points were 18 fewer than Utah had scored in any other game this season.
Typifying the Frogs' defensive effort was the squad's ability to hold two-time All-MWC forward Kalee Whipple in check. Whipple, who had 30 points and 10 rebounds against the Frogs as a sophomore two seasons ago in Fort Worth, was held to 1-of-12 shooting for only two points. She entered the contest leading the MWC scoring at 17.1 points per game.
Crawford proved to be the most effective Frog on the offensive end, although she did most of her damage at the free-throw line. She went only 3-of-8 from the field, but added a 9-of-12 effort at the charity stripe. Her eight rebounds tied for the team lead with fellow freshman forward DeLisa Gross. The two players helped TCU post a 40-37 advantage on the glass for the game, including a 12-8 edge in offensive boards. Gross chipped in seven points.
Junior guard Emily Carter reached double figures Saturday for the seventh straight contest with 14 points, while senior guard TK LaFleur added nine. Junior Helena Sverrisdottir totaled six assists, the eighth time this season she has dished out at least six.
Not to be overlooked was the performance of sophomore guard Antoinette Thompson, who was all over the defensive end of the court for TCU. While she was credited with only two steals, Thompson caused numerous other Utah miscues to help TCU finish the contest with a staggering 26-3 advantage in points off turnovers.
Freshman center Taryn Wicijowski led Utah with 16 points, while guard Janity Badon added 11. Forward Halie Sawyer pulled down eight boards.
The Frogs led by 16 points at the half, 36-20, but went cold from the field for the first seven minutes of the second period. TCU went 0-for-11 to start the second half until Sverrisdottir recorded the team's first field goal on a 3-pointer at the 12:42 mark. Following Utah baskets by Wicijowski and guard Iwalani Rodrigues that cut the lead to only 11, the Frogs took control with their critical 17-2 run.
LaFleur got TCU going by nailing a tough off-balance pull-up jumper near the baseline with just over 10 minutes remaining. Gross followed by picking off an errant Utah pass and going the distance for a layup, while Crawford then added a pair of free throws for a 17-point TCU edge.
After two Josi McDermott free throws for Utah, TCU scored 11 more points to put the game away. Carter totaled the first seven points on a jumper, 3-pointer and two free throws. The lead grew to as many as 26 points with 4:26 remaining.
TCU returns to action next Wednesday with a road matchup against Wyoming in Laramie, Wyo. Tip-off from the Cowgirls' Arena-Auditorium is schedule for 8 p.m. CT.
Players Mentioned
