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FORT WORTH, TX - The TCU Horned Frogs (10-5, 2-2 Big 12) rebounded from two consecutive losses against ranked opponents to season sweep of the Texas Tech Lady Raiders (9-6, 0-4 Big 12) in Schollmaier Arena.
TCU started out strong in the first quarter, sinking six consecutive points. Texas Tech answered rapidly with two 3-pointers to cut the Frogs early lead, and managed to keep it close through the remainder of the quarter. The Lady Raiders finished out the period on top 17-16 after guard Japreece Dean sunk a 3-pointer at the buzzer to take their first and last lead of the game.
The second quarter brought a quick comeback from TCU, scoring 13 unanswered points in the first four minutes of the period, including their first 3-pointer of the night by Frogs guard Zahna Medley. The Lady Raiders finally got on the board in the fifth minute after sinking two free throws, but were unable to stifle TCU's tenacious momentum.
"They were obviously making plays and getting inside," Texas Tech Head Coach Candi Whitaker said. "They went on a run that we didn't counter."
The Frogs were on fire behind the 3-point line in the second period, after scoring none in the first quarter, they sunk three of six attempts in the second, two of them by Medley. TCU came out on top 39-26 after the first half of play, led by Medley's 12 points.
The second half started off slow, neither team scored until late in the second minute when the Frogs became the first on the board. TCU dominated the Lady Raiders for the first half of the period, allowing only two points while putting up six. Texas Tech continued to struggle, allowing the Frogs to gain a 23-point lead to end the third period, 57-34.
Scoring leader for the Lady Raiders, guard Ivonne Cook Taylor, started out the last period by getting Texas Tech on the board first. The Lady Raiders continued to push to cut the 22-point deficit, but TCU relentlessly countered. Frogs' guards Veja Hamilton and Jada Butts added to TCU's dominating offense with 14 and 12 points, respectively.
"I think that we had really good practices leading up to the game, and we were able to continue to execute like we were in practice," Hamilton commented about the win. "We have a set game plan, and we just did a really good job of sticking to it to the best of our abilities."
Throughout a fourth quarter full of fouls, the Frogs refused to let up and were able to maintain around a 20-point lead, taking game-high 26-point lead at one time.
"Anytime you can get a win in the Big 12 is awesome," TCU Head Coach Raegan Pebley said. "And then when you can get a sweep it's even better. We had to work really hard. And I was worried a little about their legs coming into this game, but they showed a lot of toughness. We came in and practiced really hard after last week and just had to rebuild our identity and find our mojo through work ethic."
The Frogs took the game 69-48, securing the sweep of Texas Tech and rebounding them from their last two losses. The win puts TCU at 11-5, 3-2 in the Big 12 and Texas Tech at 9-7 and 0-5 in the Big 12.