Frogs, Cougars to Meet Thursday in Houston
12/30/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 30, 2009
GAME #12
TCU (8-3) vs. HOUSTON (6-6)
GAME DAY INFORMATION
Thursday, Dec. 31 • 1 p.m. • Houston, Texas • Hofheinz Pavilion (8,479)
Radio: KTCU 88.7 FM; GoFrogs.com • Talent: Jeff Williams (play-by-play)
Internet (GoFrogs.com): Free Live Radio, Live Stats
Series Record vs. UH: 10-29 • Last Meeting: Nov. 25, 2008 in Fort Worth (W, 91-72)
TCU Head Coach: Jeff Mittie (Missouri Western, `89) • Record: 224-109 in 11 years at TCU (375-168 overall)
UH Head Coach: Joe Curl (Wayne State, `78) • Record: 182-158 in 12 years at UH (320-259 overall)
FORT WORTH--TCU opens up its second-half schedule on the road Thursday when it takes on former Southwest Conference and Conference USA rival Houston at the Cougars' Hofheinz Pavilion. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.
The Frogs, who are on a three-game winning streak, bring an 8-3 overall record into Thursday's contest. In addition to renewing a long-standing rivalry with Houston, TCU also will look to stay perfect this season against teams from the state of Texas (5-0).
The squad has not played in 11 days dating back to a Dec. 20 home win over Sam Houston State and has hit the court only once in 19 days since a Dec. 12 win over No. 5 Texas A&M. Following its date with Houston, TCU will wrap up its 2009-10 non-conference schedule at home Saturday vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
Thursday's game can be heard live on the radio throughout the Metroplex on 88.7 KTCU-FM with Jeff Williams (play-by-play) calling the action. A link to an Internet radio feed will be available on game day via GoFrogs.com, in addition to a link to live statistics.
FROG QUICK NOTES
-TCU is 5-0 so far this season against in-state teams, matching the best start in program history against Texas teams (also 5-0 in 2001-02).
-Emily Carter is averaging 20.0 points per game over the last three contests and is shooting 52.8% from the field during the stretch.
-Helena Sverrisdottir needs only 41 points for 1,000 in her career and eight assists for 300.
-TK LaFleur is only 72 points shy of 1,000 for her career.
-Starr Crawford paces the MWC in rebounding (10.3 rpg) and has led TCU in the category in all but one game this season.
-Crawford entered Monday as one of only 27 players in the nation, and one of only two freshmen (also Howard's Saadia Doyle), averaging a double-double.
-TCU has outrebounded the opponent in seven of 11 games, compared to only six times in all of 2008-09.
-TCU leads the MWC in scoring (73.4 ppg), 3FG defense (26.3%), rebounding (42.8 rpg), steals (10.9 spg), turnover margin (+5.1 tpg) and offensive rebounds (16.0 rpg).
-TCU has made at least two 3-pointers in 46 consecutive games and at least one in 136 straight contests (since March 20, 2004).
SCOUTING THE HOUSTON COUGARS
Houston, 6-6 on the season, enters Thursday looking to snap a three-game losing streak after suffering losses to Princeton (60-71), Kansas (69-89) and Texas A&M Corpus Christi (76-81).
Head coach Joe Curl directs a team that returns four starters and nine lettermen from its 2008-09 roster. The squad posted a 19-10 overall record last season and finished tied for second in Conference USA (11-5).
Junior forward Courtney Taylor, who averaged a double-double as a sophomore, owns averages of 13.2 points and 9.1 rebounds this season. Junior guard Brittney Scott leads the team in scoring (17.5 ppg) and has drilled 34 shots from 3-point rang, while junior forward Lesslee Mason paces the Cougars in rebounding (9.7 rpg).
INSIDE THE SERIES
TCU trails in the all-time series with Houston by a 29-10 margin, but the squads have split the last 12 matchups since Jeff Mittie's arrival as the Frogs' head coach prior to the 1999-2000 season. The Cougars own a 3-2 edge in Houston during the stretch, including a 73-68 win in the last meeting at Hofheinz Pavilion during the 2007-08 campaign.
vs. Houston in the Jeff Mittie Era (Since 1999-00)
Jan. 6, 2002 A W 61-49
Jan. 13, 2002 H W 78-53
Jan. 12, 2003 A L 50-64
Feb. 9, 2003 H W 60-51
Jan. 18, 2004 H L 59-61
Feb. 27, 2004 A L 71-76
Mar. 7, 2004 H60 L 75-86
Jan. 30, 2005 A W 63-55
Feb. 27, 2005 H L 52-61
Nov. 22, 2006 H W 57-46
Dec. 21, 2007 A L 68-73
Nov. 25, 2008 H W 91-72
LAST TIME WE MET: TCU 91, HOUSTON 72
FORT WORTH (Nov. 25, 2008)--No. 22/24 TCU finished off its season-opening homestand with a perfect 5-0 record during a 91-72 victory over Houston at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum. Six Lady Frogs scored in double figures, as the squad shot a blistering 57.6 percent from the field.
TCU had no problems finding the bottom of the net against the Cougars. The Frogs shot well above 50 percent in each half while totaling a season high in points, and the squad finished with 20 assists against only 15 turnovers.
TK LaFleur led TCU's offensive efforts with a game-high 22 points on 8-of-10 shooting. LaFleur also added a career-best five steals while helping push the Frogs to a 27-14 advantage in points off turnovers.
Rachel Rentschler was on fire from the field, making seven of her first nine shots on her way to a then-career-high 15-point night. Chantelle John pitched in 13 points on 6-of-8 shooting. John and Rentschler each poured in 10 points in the opening half while pushing TCU to a 17-point halftime lead.
Also reaching double figures were Micah Garoutte (12) and Helena Sverrisdottir (10) and Eboni Mangum (10). Garoutte went a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line.
Freshman Roxana Button led the Cougars with 16 points, while sophomore Courtney Taylor chipped in 14 points.
Players Mentioned
