TCU
Wyoming
TCU falls to No. 21/22 Wyoming
1/12/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 12, 2008
LARAMIE, Wyo.--TCU dropped its first conference game of the season Saturday during a 62-45 loss to No. 21/22 Wyoming. The Cowgirl defense limited the Lady Frogs to a season-low 26.7 percent shooting while improving to 7-0 at home this season.TCU fell to 8-8 overall (1-1 MWC) on the season, while Wyoming moved to 14-1 overall (2-0 MWC).
The Frogs were unable to find any offensive rhythm Saturday against a stout Wyoming defense. UW had four players combine for 11 blocked shots, a single-game record for a TCU opponent. Despite a tie in turnover margin, the Cowgirls also managed to build a 19-4 advantage in points off turnovers.
TCU's 45 points was its lowest total since an 81-45 home loss to New Mexico on Feb. 26, 1998.
Lorie Butler-Rayford tied teammate Adrianne Ross for the TCU lead with nine points, while she added a game-high eight rebounds. It marked the 13th time in 16 games this season Butler-Rayford had recorded at least six boards.
Helena Sverrisdottir chipped in seven points, while Danielle Nunn led the team with three assists.
Justyna Podziemska produced Wyoming's main scoring source with a game-high 19 points on 8-of-21 field-goal attempts. Emily Dissen also hit double figures with 10 points on 5-for-5 shooting. Hanna Zavecz, while scoring only eight points, blocked five Lady Frog shots on the afternoon. Rebecca Vanderjagt added four blocks.
TCU trailed by five points at halftime, 23-18, despite hitting only 6-of-29 field-goal attempts in the opening period for a season-low rate of 20.0 percent. The Frogs played solid defense to keep themselves in the game, limiting the Cowgirls themselves to only 9-of-29 shooting.
The Cowgirls slowly built up a 10-point lead with just over 13 minutes remaining to take control of the game. Following a Sverrisdottir jumper at the 17:33 mark, TCU was held scoreless for nearly four minutes. Podziemska recorded the biggest play, a 3-pointer at the top of the key, to finish off the run.
The Frogs were unable to cut the deficit to less than six points for the remainder of the game.
Each team struggled to find offense in the game's early going. The Cowgirls settled mainly for outside jumpers against TCU's aggressive man-to-man defense and hit only 3-of-13 shots to open the game. The Frogs held UW scoreless for a four-minute stretch between the 18 and 14-minute marks while taking a 5-4 lead.
The Cowgirls put together a 10-2 run to take a 14-7 lead midway through the first half, as Dissen led the way with three layups during the stretch. The Frogs were held to only one basket for more than five minutes until Butler-Rayford layed in a pass from Nunn with nine minutes remaining in the period.
TCU eventually chipped away at the lead, and Adrianne Ross brought the team back to even at 18-18 with 2:59 remaining in the half on a pair of free throws. Ross had a chance to put the Frogs up on the following possession, but had her transition layup rolled off the rim.
Wyoming ended the half on a 5-0 run on a trey by Podziemska and two Dominique Sisk free throws.
TCU continues its difficult early conference schedule Tuesday, when it travels to The Pit in Albuquerque, N.M., to take on New Mexico. The 7:30 p.m. CDT tip-off will be broadcast on a regional basis by The Mtn.
