TCU
Rutgers
TCU Lady Frogs Down Rutgers 78-67
12/8/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 8, 2001
The TCU Lady Frogs (5-2) picked up a benchmark victory with a 78-67 triumph over the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (4-3) on Saturday afternoon at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum. Kati Safaritova scored a season-high 24 points, while Sandora Irvin added 16 points and 14 rebounds to lead TCU to its first-ever victory over a Big East school.
After a seesaw battle in the early stages of the contest, Rutgers took an 11-10 lead at the 13:24 mark of the first half. The Scarlet Knights held onto that lead for the next 10 minutes, and stretched the advantage to as many as eight. However, the tide turned in the last five-plus minutes of the half as the Frogs' defense stiffened.
TCU, who trailed 31-23 at that point, held Rutgers scoreless for the remainder of the half. Over that time, TCU scored 14 points to take a 37-31 lead into intermission. Safaritova gave the Frogs a huge boost by drilling a three at the buzzer off a pass from Ashanti Nix to push the lead to six points.
"We hit a couple of emotional shots late in the first half," said TCU head coach Jeff Mittie. "But were able to control our emotions and realize that we had to play another 20 minutes. There's no question that it's a big nonconference victory. Rutgers has a very good, young basketball team."
The Frogs never relinquished the lead in the second half and connected on 21-of-25 free throws on the afternoon. TCU also won the battle on the boards 40-35.
TCU's inside duo of Safaritova and Irvin were a combined 16-of-32 from the floor, had 39 points and 20 rebounds. From the outside, Nix tallied nine points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Tiffany Evans grabbed 12 points off the bench.
"Offensively, we felt like we had a size advantage and that we could pound them inside," Mittie said. "This team understood that and executed well. We also were able to confuse them with our matchup defense. "
The Frogs play Southwest Missouri State, their fourth 2001 NCAA Tournament opponent of the season, next Sat., Dec. 15 at 5:30 p.m. at the Fort Worth Convention Center. The Bears advanced to the Final Four last year.
