TCU
Texas Tech (WNIT)
Lady Frogs end long drought at Texas Tech
3/26/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
March 26, 2008
LUBBOCK, Texas--TCU posted an historic 81-74 victory Wednesday evening over Texas Tech at the Lady Raiders' United Spirit Arena. The win marked TCU's first ever in 38 games against its former Southwest Conference rival, ending the longest winless streak against any opponent in program history.The victory, which improved the squad's season record to 23-11, moved the Lady Frogs on to the quarterfinals of the Women's NIT, where they will face the winner of Thursday's Villanova-Colorado matchup at a date to be announced.
Wednesday's game, in addition to breaking TCU's long winless streak against the Lady Raiders, also marked the 900th all-time contest in program history, as well as the 500th in Head Coach Jeff Mittie's career.
The Frogs prevailed in a back-and-forth game that featured 11 ties and 13 lead changes. The squad trailed by four points at intermission and by as many as seven in the second half after holding a 12-point lead in the game's opening 10 minutes. TCU scored 14 of the game's final 18 points to pull away from the Lady Raiders in the closing moments.
Adrianne Ross led TCU with 23 points--her second straight 20-plus-point effort--while adding four rebounds and four assists. Lorie Butler-Rayford, who notched her second straight double-double with 15 points and 15 rebounds, was paramount in TCU's second half run. Nine of the senior forward's season-high-tying boards came in the second half. Butler-Rayford also totaled a team-high five assists.
Helena Sverrisdottir added 16 points and five rebounds, while going 6-for-6 from the free-throw line. Moneka Knight scored eight points, and Danielle Nunn chipped in six.
Texas Tech had three players score in double figures, including Keisha Walker (16 points), Jordan Murphree (14) and Stanecia Graham (11). TCU was able to hold second-team All-Big 12 forward Dominic Seals to only six points and three rebounds on the evening. The game marked only the fourth time all season the junior had been held to six points or fewer.
Trailing by as many as seven points early in the second half, TCU rallied with the help of a 7-0 run to bring itself even with Tech. Nunn finished off two Frog fast breaks with layups to complete the comeback with just over 15 minutes remaining. Ross put the Frogs up by two with a layup on the following possession.
A back-and-forth game ensued, until TCU eventually took control. The Frogs made their move to build an eight-point advantage with three and a half minutes remaining after outscoring the Raiders 15-5 over a five-minute stretch. Ross paced the team's run with three buckets in the final five minutes, and TCU dominated the glass by out-rebounding Tech 24-12 in the second half.
TCU opened the game sharp, pushing the ball up the court against the Raiders early to grab a nine-point lead just over five minutes into the contest. The squad made 7-of-11 shots and pulled down eight of the game's first 12 rebounds.
A 14-2 run over a three-minute stretch helped the Frog advantage grow, with five points each coming from Sverrisdottir and Ross. Ross added a 3-pointer at the 13:20 mark to put TCU up by 12 points, 19-7.
Tech stormed back, grabbing the lead less than four minutes later with a 17-2 run that put the team up, 24-21. The Lady Raiders, who grabbed each of the final seven rebounds of the first half, reached intermission with a four-point advantage, 46-42.
