TCU
Utah
TCU pulls away from Utah, 69-56
1/28/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 28, 2006
TCU-Utah Game Book in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
FORT WORTH, Texas -- The TCU Lady Frogs (11-7, 5-2 MWC) pulled away late from the Utah Utes (13-5, 4-3 MWC) on Saturday, winning by a 69-56 tally in Daniel-Meyer Coliseum.
With the score tied at 20-20 in the first half and 6:04 to go, the Lady Frogs closed with a 13-3 run to lead 33-23 at the break. Natasha Lacy capped TCU's push with a pull-up three from the top of the key with two seconds remaining before halftime.
The Utes used a 10-2 run over the first 3:41 of the second half to close within two at 35-33. TCU was clinging to a 45-44 lead with 10:50 left after a jumper by Utah's Camie Oakey. Both teams went scoreless over the ensuing 2:44.
A 12-2 tear by the Lady Frogs in 2:55 helped them to a 57-46 advantage with just over five minutes to play. Lacy scored six points during the critical stretch and assisted on two other baskets.
Oakey got an uncontested layup with 3:08 on the clock to trim the TCU lead to seven, 57-50. Vanessa Clementino canned a three on TCU's next possession just before the shot clock expired to give her team a comfortable 10-point lead with two and a half minutes left.
Lacy tied her career high with 23 points and added 13 rebounds for her third double-double in a row and sixth of the season. Adrianne Ross had a dozen, and Ashley Davis and Clementino added 11 and 10. Ross also snagged five rebounds, dished out six assists and had four steals.
Lacy's 13 rebounds gave her 505 for her career, making her just the seventh player in school history to reach 500.
Kim Smith paced Utah with 24 points on 11-of-22 shooting and 16 rebounds. Heidi Carlsen was the Utes' next highest scorer with nine.
TCU shot 35.5 percent (22-of-62) from the field and Utah went 23-for-59 (.390). The Lady Frogs shot 20 more free throws than Utah and made 20-of-28 (.714).
Turnovers played a key role in the game, as TCU forced 21 and committed just 11. The Lady Frogs moved to 22-1 all-time under coach Jeff Mittie when posting a turnover margin of at least plus-10.
TCU plays its next contest in Las Vegas against UNLV on Thursday at 10 p.m. CST. The game will be televised by CSTV with Tim Neverett giving the play-by-play call and Krista Blunk providing color commentary.
