TCU
Sam Houston
Lady Frogs Crush Sam Houston State, 117-50
11/16/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 16, 2001
FORT WORTH, Texas (Nov. 16, 2001) - High school All-American Sandora Irvin was as good as advertised in her TCU debut, as she nearly posted a 20-point, 20-rebound night in just 21 minutes of play in the Lady Frogs' season-opening 117-50 victory over Sam Houston State. TCU (1-0) surpassed the 100-point plateau in the regular season for the first time since 1999, and the 117 points rank as the fourth-most ever tallied by the Frogs.
Junior transfer Grace Gantt led six TCU players in double figures with 25 points. Four TCU returnees: Ebony Shaw (17), Kati Safaritova (10), Tiffany Evans (10) and Ashanti Nix (10), also reached double digits in the rout. Nix, a senior point guard, added five assists and five steals to lead the team in both categories.
The Frogs buried the Lady Bearkats in the first half by jumping out to an impressive 56-13 lead at intermission. Irvin helped TCU bolt out to an early 13-2 lead by scoring seven points in the game's first two-and-a-half minutes.
Irvin's 18 boards tied as the third-most rebounds in a single game by a TCU player in school history. The taller Frogs dominated the glass, doubling the Bearkats' rebound total 60-to-30. TCU shot 52.5 percent from the field and held Sam Houston to a paltry 27.6 percent shooting. TCU also forced 28 turnovers and made 17 steals on the night.
The 67-point margin of victory was just one point shy of the largest win in school annals. The Frogs defeated Texas-Pan American 121-53 on Nov. 29, 1987. The 41 field goals made tied as the third-most ever and the 60 rebounds matched the fourth-most by a Frog squad.
The Frogs take to the road for the next three games, beginning with a matchup at Air Force on Sunday, Nov. 18 at 5:00 p.m. (CT). The next TCU home game is Friday, Nov. 30 against Prairie View A&M.
