TCU
Rice
Adrianne Ross, TCU runs over Rice, 81-67
11/25/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 25, 2006
FORT WORTH, Texas - TCU - utilizing an entire team effort on both ends of the court - played arguably its best game of the season and added its second straight victory to the books. The Lady Frogs (2-3) took control early with tenacious defense and sizzling shooting and beat Rice (3-2) 81-67 Saturday afternoon at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum.
Led by a career-high-tying 24 points and a career-best seven steals from junior guard Adrianne Ross, the Lady Frogs shot a season-best 47.6 percent (30-63) from the field. TCU hit 48.5 percent of its shots in the first half and forced 26 turnovers in the game.
"We had a really good practice yesterday and that carried over to the game," said eighth-year TCU women's basketball head coach Jeff Mittie. "I thought we played well on both ends of the floor."
Ross undoubtedly played like a preseason All-America candidate as she recorded 24 points for the second time in two weeks. She was 10-of-17 from the field for a team and personal-season-best .588 shooting mark. The seven steals she recorded in the game is the fifth-most ever for a Lady Frog in a single game.
"I thought Adrianne did a great job," said Mittie. "She was cramping up in the second half but battled through the pain and finished up strong. I was really proud of her effort."
It was a close game most of the first half, but that changed with 9:34 in the first half when freshman guard Danielle Nunn hit a jumper to give TCU a 16-15 lead. From there, Ross scored two lay-ups and sunk a 3-pointer and junior guard Helen Roden scored a lay-up as TCU went on a 9-1 run for the 25-16 advantage.
The Lady Frogs - who led by as much as 13 in the first period (32-19) - went to halftime with a 38-29 edge. Ross had 22 of the team's 38 points and nearly single-handily outscored the Owls.
"I felt like I didn't contribute as much as I wanted to last game," said Ross, who needs just seven more steals to be ranked fourth in the program's history. "I went into practice yesterday focused and practiced hard because I wanted to see better results on the court today. I took a different mental approach into the game and I felt like I improved."
Rice cut the gap to nine points with 4:55 left in the game when the Owls' Maudess Fulton went in for a lay-up. However, on the next play, Roden answered back with her own shot and TCU led 68-57. With 1:04 remaining, Roden sunk two free throws and the Lady Frogs led by 17 (81-64) until Rice scored a 3-pointer in the final seconds.
Senior guard/forward Ashley Davis once again had a standout performance and scored in double-figures for the fourth consecutive game. She was 8-of-15 from the field, including 3-for-6 from beyond the arc, for 19 points. Roden continued with her near perfection from the free throw line, sinking 7-of-8 shots. She finished with 14 points and four assists. Sophomore center Micaela Younger led TCU and set a new career-high mark with seven rebounds.
Ross has registered 24 points four times in her career but has yet to ever surpass that mark. Fans chanted her name in the stands as the seconds ticked off the clock in hopes the native of Hobbs, New Mexico, would score one more point. However, Ross hobbled up the court because of cramps and never had the chance to score again.
Lauren Neaves paced Rice with 17 points.
TCU will host undefeated SMU on Thursday, Nov. 30, at 7 p.m.
