TCU
Cincinnati
TCU Pounces on 26th-Rated Cincinnati 73-57
1/18/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 18, 2002
FORT WORTH, Texas - TCU (13-3, 3-0 C-USA) was the aggressor on Friday night at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum as the defensive-minded Lady Frogs issued the 26th-rated Cincinnati Bearcats (13-3, 2-2 C-USA) their worst loss of the season. TCU's 73-57 victory was the team's sixth straight win and 11th in the last 12 games.
TCU was tough defensively, allowing Cincinnati to shoot just 23.3 percent in the first stanza and 28.1 percent for the game. The Bearcats entered the contest as the best shooting team in Conference USA (47.9 percent). TCU had 13 blocks on the game, the second-most in school history and held the Bearcats to their lowest scoring output of the season and 19 points below their season average.
TCU continued to use a well-balanced offensive attack, as all nine players who saw action in the first half entered the scoring column. The Lady Frogs led 36-24 at the break and proceeded to go on a 12-0 run to start the second half. TCU doubled up the Bearcats 48-24 with 14:48 remaining and never were threatened.
Freshman Sandora Irvin made a statement for the Frogs, finishing with her eighth double-double of the season. She poured in 19 points to go along with 10 rebounds and seven blocked shots. Irvin's seven blocked shots in a game tied a 17-year-old school record.
Kati Safaritova (13) and Ebony Shaw (10) also recorded double figures for the Frogs. Shaw was a key defensively, as she forced high-scoring guard Valerie King into a 4-for-20 shooting night and blocked a career-best three shots.
The Bearcats entered the game rated 26th according to the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll and 37th by the Associated Press. TCU began the week ranked 31st in the coaches' poll and 39th according to AP.
TCU finishes its three-game conference homestand with a 1:00 p.m. (CT) contest against Louisville on Sun., January 20. The Frogs then go on their longest road trip of the season, a four-game skein, beginning at Charlotte on Fri., January 25.
