Horned Frogs Ready For NC State Sunday Afternoon
11/18/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 18, 2011
GAME DAY INFORMATION
TCU Horned Frogs(1-2, 0-0 Mountain West)
Head coach: Jeff Mittie
Career Record: 412-187 (1-2 season)
School Record: 261-128 (13th Season)
NC State(2-0, 0-0 ACC)
Head Coach: Kellie Harper
Career Record: 133-96 (2-0 season)
Location: Fort Worth, Texas • Arena: Daniel-Meyer Coliseum
Rankings: TCU - NR/NR • NC State - NR/NR
Last Time Out: TCU lost to SMU, 38-47
Television: The Mtn.
Television Talent: Chuck LaMendola (Play-By-Play); Emily Carter (Color)
Live Video: http://gofrogs.cstv.com/allaccess
Live Audio: http://gofrogs.cstv.com/allaccess
Live Stats: GoFrogs.com (Gametracker)
Radio: KTCU (88.7 FM) Russell Scott (Play-By-Play)
Twitter Updates: http://twitter.com/TCUWbasketball
Series Record vs. NC State: NC State Leads, 1-0
Last Meeting vs. NC State: 2009; NC State win (76-62)
FORT WORTH, Texas - TCU will play NC State Sunday at 1:00 p.m. CT, as the Horned Frogs host the Wolfpack at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum in the program's 1,000 women's basketball game overall.
The Frogs, who fell to SMU Thursday, will look to move to 2-0 at home this season against a NC State program that they have only faced one other time in their history. The game Sunday is being shown live on The Mtn., with Chuck LaMendola and former Frog great Emily Carter calling the game. The Mtn. is available nationwide on DIRECTV channel 616.
The Opponent
NC State comes into Sunday's contest 2-0 on the season after defeating Southeast Missouri State and UNC Wilmington to open the 2011-12 campaign. In their last outing against the Seahawks, the Wolfpack outscored UNC Wilmington by 19 points in the second half to cruise to a 83-64 victory. Returning all-ACC forward Bonae Holston scored 10 points on the night. She also grabbed 10 boards to post her 19th double-double of her career. Marissa Kastanek and Kody Burke each scored 14 and 13 points, respectively.
NC State was selected seventh in the preseason ACC standings and has been led this winter by Kastanek, who is averaging 12.0 points per game. Krystal Barrett, a Dallas native, has chipped in with 11.0 points per game after two games.
The Series
When TCU takes on NC State Sunday it will mark the second meeting between the two schools. The Wolfpack currently own a 1-0 lead in the series after defeating the Frogs in 2009, 76-62. In the only other meeting, TCU got off to a fast start early, making 11 of its first 13 shots to move out to an early 10-point advantage midway through the first half, but NC State took control late, dropping the Frogs at Reynolds Coliseum.
Quick Notes About Sunday's Game
When TCU takes to the court against NC State, it will mark the program's 1,000 basketball game overall. Sunday's contest will also mark the 600th game in head coach Jeff Mittie's 20 years on the bench.
Some Impressive Freshmen Numbers
TCU has played a total of five freshmen this season and all of them have contributed in some form or fashion. Natalie Ventress became only the seventh freshmen in head coach Jeff Mittie's tenure to start a season-opener, joining the likes of teammates Delisa Gross and Starr Crawford in 2009. Former Horned Frogs, Helena Sverrisdottir (2007), Shayla Moore (2006), Natasha Lacy (2003) and Sandora Irvin (2001) also started for Mittie in their first game in a Horned Frog uniform.
By grabbing 12 boards at Georgia, Chelsea Prince became the first freshman to lead TCU in rebounds since teammate Briesha Wynn posted a 15 board outing against UT Arlington (Dec. 8, 2010) last winter. Prince's 12 boards were the most by a true freshman in a season-opener since Sandora Irvin began her career with 18 boards against Sam Houston State in 2001.
On Monday, Jazz Parker led TCU in scoring with 14 points becoming the first freshman since teammate Star Crawford led the Frogs with 19 against Oklahoma on Nov. 21, 2009. Ventress followed Thursday, leading TCU in scoring against SMU.
The last time two different freshman led TCU in scoring in consecutive games was during the 2007-08 season when former Frogs' Micah Garoutte and Helena Sverrisdottir, scored 14 and 15 points, respectively, against BYU and San Diego State to begin the month of February.
A Block Party
Latricia Lovings has now posted four blocks in back-to-back-to-back games to open the year. By doing so, Lovings became the first Frog to block at least four shots in three-straight games since Sandora Irvin recorded 5 against Houston (1/30) and eight against Memphis (2/5) and Saint Louis (2/7), respectively, during the 2005 season. Lovings' four blocks are the most in a game by a current Frog since Delisa Gross' freshman season against San Diego State in 2009-10. Gross collected four blocks against the Aztecs.
Turning Up The Defense
TCU held UTSA to only 30 points on Monday night, which is the fourth-fewest points scored by an opponent in school history. The Frogs also limited the Roadrunners to only 13.3 percent from the floor, which is the second lowest field goal percentage in school history by an opponent.
In all, UTSA made only eight buckets the entire night, which is the lowest in a game since Texas Southern collected only six in 2002. On Thursday, the Frogs held SMU to only 47 points on 15-of-61 shooting.
During the last two years, the Frogs have held seven different opponents under 16 shots made in a single-game. TCU is now 28-3 the last three seasons when holding an opponent under 60 points and 167-11 during Jeff Mittie's TCU career.
Thompson Has Career Night
Senior Antoinette Thompson has not been called upon to shoot during her four-year career in Fort Worth, but that all changed against Georgia. The lone senior on the squad had a dazzling performance and a career-night, setting new career-highs in points (23), field goals (9), field goal attempts (14), three-pointers (4) and three-pointers attempted (6).
Bombing Away From Deep
TCU and Georgia combined to make 24 three-pointers in the season opener. The Horned Frogs, who only trailed by nine with 5 minutes left to go in the contest, nailed 11 triples, including seven in the first half. When it was all said and done, the Frogs hoisted the seventh-most three-point attempts (29) in a single-game in school history, while ripping the nets for the sixth-most triples made (11) in a single-game.
Follow The Frogs
Fans not able to attend Sunday's home contest can follow the game live on TCU's website via a live web stream. Gametracker and radio (KTCU) are also available for Sunday's contest on GoFrogs.com. To access any of the above, go to the women's basketball schedule page and click on the respective links located on the right-hand side of the page.
Last Time Out
TCU battled back to take a two-point lead midway through the second half, but SMU was able to outlast the Horned Frogs Thursday night, winning 47-38 in a hard fought defensive tussle at Moody Coliseum.
For a second-straight game, TCU, now 1-2 on the year, controlled its opponent on the defensive end of the court, this time limiting SMU, who is now 3-0 on the season, to only 24.6 percent from the floor on 15-of-61 shooting, including 3-of-12 from deep. When it was all said and done though, the Frogs and Mustangs combined for only 44 second half points, which is tied for sixth all-time in school history.
The Frogs, who couldn't overcome a slow start shooting the ball Thursday, finally found their stride late in the contest when junior Delisa Gross tickled the twine to give the Purple and White a 29-27 lead at the 9:40 mark of the second half. Despite constant Frog pressure, the Mustangs were able to run out the clock with some key free throws down the stretch to knock off TCU for the first time since 2008 and for only the second time at Moody Coliseum since 2007.
Headlines To Look At
During the Jeff Mittie era, the Frogs are 219-29 when leading at the half. TCU, who went 18-2 last season when leading at the half, is also 127-3 when leading by 10+ at the half.
Overall, when the Frogs score 80+ points in regulation, TCU is 77-1 under Mittie. The Frogs are also 167-11 when the opponent scores 60 or less, which happened 21 times last season.
Mittie Enters 13th Season At TCU
Jeff Mittie has taken TCU to previously unreached heights during his first 12 years on campus. The 45-year-old Mittie has guided the program to winning seasons in each of his 12 previous campaigns, while taking TCU to 11 straight postseason tournaments, including nine NCAA berths.
Since his arrival in Fort Worth, Mittie has compiled a 261-128 (.671) record while exceeding the win total the program accomplished in its first 22 seasons. Mittie's victories account for 56% of the school's 469 wins in 33 seasons of basketball. Prior to Mittie's arrival, TCU owned a 208-402 (.340) mark. He recorded his milestone 200th victory at TCU during the 2009-10 home win over Sam Houston State.
Overall, Mittie has been a head coach for 19 seasons, compiling a 412-187 (.688) record. He ranks No. 29 in winning percentage among all active coaches nationally and is 40th on the NCAA's all-time list in terms of winning percentage by coaches with a minumum of 10 years experience. He ranks No. 2 in women's college basketball's current leaders in victories for a coach age 45 or younger.
Up Next
TCU will head to the UCF Thanksgiving Tournament next week to face off against Hartford and Fordham on Nov. 25-26. Tip-off for both games is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. CT.
