TCU
Fresno State
TCU Drops Heartbreaker To Fresno State Saturday
12/4/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 4, 2010
FRESNO, Calif. - TCU led by as many as 14 points in the second half Saturday, but was unable to hold off Fresno State down the stretch during a 75-72 setback at the Save Mart Center.The Horned Frogs pushed their lead to 14 points at the 9:01 mark of the second half on a Helena Sverrisdottir three off an assist by Emily Carter before the Bulldogs began their furious comeback.
Fresno State, who made the NCAA Tournament a year ago, went 6-of-9 from deep down the stretch to cap the second half rally. The Bulldogs' Emma Andrews, who saw her first action of the season Saturday, put the finishing touches on the day, scoring a three with 15 seconds left in the game to secure the 75-72 final decision. Andrews' three with time running down gave Fresno State its first lead in the game since leading 33-32 with 1 minute, 24 seconds remaining in the first half.
TCU, who earlier went on a 19-3 run between the final minutes of the first half and the beginning of the second half, had two final chances to tie the game at 75-75, but Carter and Sverrisdottir couldn't connect as the Frogs moved to 4-4 on the year. Fresno State improved to 6-2 on the young season.
Sverrisdottir paced the Horned Frog offense Saturday with a season-high 22 points on 8-of-16 shooting, including 4-of-9 from deep, which is a career-high. Sophomore DeLisa Gross had a career day for the Frogs, scoring a career-high 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting. Carter closed TCU's top performers Saturday with 18 points, seven assists and five rebounds.
Overall, TCU, who outrebounded the pesky Bulldogs Saturday by five boards, limited Fresno State to only 32 percent shooting from downtown on 13-of-40 shooting. The Bulldogs 40 attempts were the second-most ever recorded in a single-game in program history. In 2008, FSU attempted 41 from deep against the Horned Frogs. Rosie Moult led Fresno State with a game-high 23 points, while Jaleesa Ross scored 17, while also dishing out six assists.
TCU, who opened the second half with a 12-3 run, moved its lead to eight early in the second period of play when Carter found a streaking Sverrisdottir for a backdoor lay-up. The senior continued to power the Frogs a few moments later off a deep three from the top of the key.
The Frogs jumped out to a 12-point lead at the 13:52 mark of the second period when Sverrisdottir fired from deep. Gross took over from their, scoring four-straight points, including a contested layup after the Bulldogs had battled back to within 10.
Sverrisdottir gave TCU its biggest lead of the night on another deep three from the top of the key, which moved the score to 60-46. Fresno State continued to answer though and cut the deficit to six with 6 minutes left.
Fresno State pulled within two at the 3:59 mark of the second half, but TCU responded by grabbing two offensive rebounds on the next possession. Gross put the finishing touches by making one-of-two free throws to give TCU a 67-64 advantage with 3 minutes, 38 seconds left in the game.
With the game tied at 67-67, Gross gave TCU a three-point lead off a cross from Sverrisdottir, but Fresno's Ross tied the game back up on a three of her own. Carter answered with two free throws to regain the TCU lead, but FSU tied the game at 72-72 on the next possession.
With 15.5 seconds left, Andrews drilled her first three of the season and the eventual game-winner from the top of the key to secure the victory.
Carter started the game on fire, scoring eight of the Frogs' first 10 points. Freshman Briesha Wynn's jumper at the top of the key halfway through the half tied the ballgame at 16-16.
Fellow freshman Meagan Henson's running lay-up put the Frogs ahead a few moments later, but it was short lived as Fresno State regained the lead. Sverrisdottir nailed a deep three from the left side of the court to tie the game at 23-23, but the Bulldogs rallied off three-straight three's to push the score to 29-23 at the 4:35 mark of the first half.
The Frogs continued to cut into the deficit and tied the ballgame at 29-29 when Antoinette Thompson found a cutting Starr Crawford. After a couple of free throws by Fresno State, Gross brought TCU within one, hitting the bottom of the net from behind the arc.
Carter and Gross both scored jumpers off some beautiful ball movement at the end of the half to give TCU a 36-33 lead at the break. The Horned Frogs closed the half on a 7-0 run.
TCU will return to the hardwood Wednesday, Dec. 8 against UTA. Start time is set for 6:30 p.m. from Daniel-Meyer Coliseum.
