TCU
Grambling St.
TCU coasts to easy win over Grambling State
12/29/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 29, 2007
Final Stats | Quotes | Notes
View the post-game press conference via All-Access
FORT WORTH--TCU returned from its holiday break sharp Saturday afternoon, posting an 83-51 win over Grambling State at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum. The Lady Frogs put the game away early with a 31-point lead at halftime.The squad improved to 6-7 this season, with all six wins coming at the DMC. GSU dropped to 1-9 overall.
TCU used an aggressive effort in the first half to take a 46-17 advantage into the locker room, forcing 17 turnovers in the period while limiting the Tigers to only 17.4 percent shooting from the field. The Frogs turned the ball over only nine times themselves during the game, their lowest total this season.
Danielle Nunn paced TCU in scoring in her first career start with 12 points on 3-of-5 shooting. She also hit 6-of-9 shots from the free-throw line while tying Moneka Knight for the team lead with three steals. Emily Carter, who earned only her second career start, chipped in 11 points and seven rebounds.
Lorie Butler-Rayford, who played in her 100th career game as a Lady Frog, also hit double-figures with 10 points. She pulled down seven boards, while Helen Roden scored nine points to go with a career-high-tying nine rebounds.
Adrianne Ross led TCU with five assists in addition eight points. Ross moved within two steals of tying the TCU career record after recording one theft in the first half.
Ashley Cooper and Whitney Brown led Grambling State in scoring with nine points each, while Kourtney Sherman pitched in eight points. Paris Hawkins collected a game-high seven assists for the Lady Tigers, and Dominique Reynolds led the squad with six rebounds.
While the Lady Tigers were able to keep the score close in the game's opening minutes, TCU took control with a sustained run during a 10-minute stretch midway through the first half, scoring 26 unanswered points to push out to a 30-point lead, 38-8.
Following a basket by Diasha Huff with 14:07 remaining, TCU was able to hold GSU scoreless until Cooper connected on a pair of free throws with 4:37 remaining in the period. The Frogs recorded 11 field goals during the stretch, including three baskets by Butler-Rayford and two each from Roden, Ross and Helena Sverrisdottir.
While Grambling State finished the half with seven points over the last 4:37, TCU allowed only one field goal in the final 14:07, a layup by Huff with 21 seconds remaining. The Tigers were limited to only 4-of-23 shooting from the field (17.4 percent) overall during the half, and TCU was able to force the squad into 17 turnovers, which resulted in 17 points.
The Frogs turned the ball over only five times themselves in the first half and shot an efficient 47.2 percent from the field.
TCU coasted to victory in the second half, building its lead up to as many as 39 points in the closing minutes of play. The Frogs finished the game out-scoring GSU 31-10 off turnovers and 38-24 in the paint.
TCU continues its three-game homestand next Friday, Jan. 4 with a 6:30 p.m. contest with UT-Arlington at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum. The game against the Mavericks will conclude the Frogs' non-conference schedule.
