Moore, reserves help No. 22 TCU whip Iowa State

Ames, Iowa -- The No. 22 TCU Horned Frogs started off slightly sluggish, but ended strong, using a powerful third quarter start to beat the Iowa State Cyclones 75-52 on Tuesday night.

“We value and are so grateful for this win and I know our team worked really, really hard,” said TCU head coach Raegan Pebley.

While TCU (16-5, 7-3 Big 12) came out with a very intense defense on Iowa State, the Cyclones (9-13, 3-8 Big 12) got a burst of energy from senior Emily Durr, as she rewarded herself with 10 points in just the first quarter.

But that didn’t stop TCU, as a steal from Kianna Ray allowed her to put up a contested lay-up to make the deficit only one point. That layup was followed by a three-point buzzer beater from Amber Ramirez, which gave the Horned Frogs a 21-16 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Iowa State was missing 6’4 junior Bride Kennedy-Hopoate (strained foot) down low, allowing TCU’s post game to show its strength. TCU was led by 6’3" junior Jordan Moore (25 points, and 6 rebounds) as she showed her power in the paint throughout the game with nobody able to stop her.

At the end of the second frame, TCU was in the lead with a 43-29 score.

Coming out of halftime, both teams were ready to play. Scoring 13 points in the first four minutes, the Horned Frogs extended the lead by as much as 26 points. The Horned Frogs outscored ISU 22-11 in just the third frame alone, which spoke to the level they were playing at.

Iowa State started the final stanza on a 10-0 run, but TCU’s 2-3 defense was just too much for Iowa State, as they went in a slump and didn’t score for the last seven minutes of the game.

“They are a top 25 team and they showed that tonight,” said head coach Bill Fennelly of Iowa State on TCU’s defense tonight.

Besides Moore's amazing game, Amber Ramirez provided 12 points and a team-high three assists (one of three players with three), and Toree Thompson scored eight points to help the Horned Frogs win seven straight conference games for the first time since 2008.

Iowa State’s Durr (21 points) and teammate Bridget Carleton (12 points) were the only ones on the court with double figures and the most minutes on the court for the Cyclones.

“We try and create off each other,” Carleton said.

However, Iowa State head coach Bill Fennelly was harder on his team, pointing out the overall lack of effort.

“You can’t win any level game with two players,” said head coach of Iowa State about Durr and Carleton.

TCU will have a chance at a major upset when they travel to the Frank Erwin Center on Saturday to face the No. 8 Texas Longhorns. As for Iowa State, the Cyclones will look to bounce back against Kansas State on the same day.