TCU
Oregon
TCU Women Lose First Game of Year
11/24/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 24, 2001
PORTLAND, Ore. - The TCU Lady Frogs dropped to 2-1 on the year after suffering a 75-63 loss at the hands of the Oregon Ducks in the Pape Jam Classic on Saturday night. Oregon (2-2), a Pac-10 school who has made eight consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, never trailed in the ballgame and was able to withstand several second-half Frog uprisings.
The Ducks jumped out to a 21-8 lead just eight minutes into the game after connecting on their first three three-point attempts. Oregon, who entered the game shooting just 23.8 percent from three-point range for the season, connected on 8-of-18 long-range shots (44.4 percent) against the Frogs.
"We dug ourselves a hole," head coach Jeff Mittie said. "And Oregon didn't let us out. I thought the first five minutes we played a little tentative. But I think this game will make us better in the long run."
TCU outscored Oregon 42-41 in the second half, but it was not enough to overcome a 13-point halftime deficit. TCU shot just 36.1 percent from the field to 45.5 percent for Oregon. Oregon's guard tandem of Edniesha Curry and Shaquala Williams combined to score 43 points in the victory, as the Ducks became the first team to score more than 50 points against TCU this season.
TCU fell to 3-17 under Mittie's tenure when allowing an opponent to score more than 70 points. In addition, over the last three seasons the Lady Frogs are 10-18 when held under the 70-point mark.
Sandora Irvin led the Frogs with 20 points and seven rebounds, but fell three rebounds shy of her third double-double in as many collegiate games. Kati Safaritova added a season-high 19 point effort on 7-of-9 shooting from the floor.
The Frogs play the final game of the three-game road trip on Tuesday, Nov. 27 with a matchup against No. 5 Oklahoma in Norman, Okla. TCU then will begin a nine-game homestand on Friday, Nov. 30.
