TCU
George Washington (BTI Classic)
No. 25 George Washington edges Lady Frogs, 82-77
11/18/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 18, 2006
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - TCU led by as much as nine points over No. 25/ARV George Washington in the second half before eventually falling, 82-77, in the second round of the 2006 BTI Classic on the campus of the University of Maryland.
The Lady Frogs dropped to 0-2 for the first time since the 1995-96 season while the Colonials improved to 4-0.
"I thought we competed hard," eighth-year TCU head coach Jeff Mittie said. "It was a hard situation because we got in foul trouble down the stretch. It would have made a difference if Lorie (Butler-Rayford) and Ashley (Davis) had not fouled out and stayed in the game."
Butler-Rayford recorded the first double-double of the season for the Frogs and eighth of her career with 11 points and 13 rebounds, including 10 boards in the first half.
"Lorie played great," Mittie said. "Her effort today was outstanding."
TCU junior guard Adrianne Ross came out of the gate on fire, scoring the Frogs first five points of the game; she finished the opening period scoring 16 of TCU's 31 total points. In the latter part of the game, Ross added eight more points and finished 9-of-16 from the floor for a career-high-tying 24 points.
The first half of the game was a seesaw affair as the lead changed three times and tied up on four occasions. A Ross bucket with 47 seconds remaining in the first period tied the score up 29-all, but GW's Chantelle John answered with a jumper and the Colonials went to halftime with a 31-29 advantage.
TCU came back from the break and went on a 20-9 run, thanks to the hot shooting of Butler-Rayford, Davis and Ross. With the scored tied 36-36 at the 17:30 mark in the second half, Davis hit back-to-back treys that gave the Lady Frogs the lead for the first time in the second half.
Utilizing an entire team effort and taking advantage of TCU's lack of height, George Washington slowly crept back into the game. A made free throw by the Colonials' Whitney Allen at 7:09 gave GW the permanent lead. The Lady Frogs would attempt a comeback, but with Butler-Rayford and Davis fouled out, TCU never got closer than three points in the closing minutes.
TCU had 20 turnovers in the contest.
"Our guards have to learn to take better care of the ball," Mittie said. "We can't turn the ball over as much as we did and expect to win (a game)."
The Lady Frogs shot 42.2 percent from the field and four players scored in double figures. Freshman Danielle Nunn was 4-for-6 from the field for 12 points and Davis chipped in 11 points, respectively. Junior transfer guard Helen Roden earned her first career start and finished with six points, six rebounds and four assists.
TCU starting guard Moneka Knight did not suit up for the game (ankle). It was the first time in 64 straight games that she did not play.
Sarah-Jo Lawrence led GW with 20 points.
TCU will conclude play at the BTI Classic with a noon (CT) contest against Arizona.
