TCU Opens WNIT vs. UTRGV
3/16/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
March 16, 2016
TCU Horned Frogs (16-14, 8-10) vs. UT Rio Grande Valley (19-13, 9-5) | |
|---|---|
| Date (Time) | Thursday, March 17, 2016 | 7:00 p.m. CT |
| Location | Fort Worth, Texas | Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena |
| TV | FrogVision through GoFrogs.com ($$) |
| KTCU 88.7 FM in the DFW Metroplex Jeff Williams (play-by-play) | |
| Live Stats | GoFrogs.com |
| Game Notes | TCU Game Notes |
FORT WORTH, Texas -- TCU opens play in the 2016 Postseason Women's NIT on Thursday when the Frogs host UT Rio Grande Valley for the second time this season. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. CT with the game available on the web via FrogVision on GoFrogs.com and on the radio via KTCU 88.7 FM in the DFW Metroplex and through GoFrogs.com with Jeff Williams (play-by-play) on the call. The radio broadcast will begin at 6:55 p.m. CT.
Tickets for the 2016 Postseason Women's NIT are available through the TCU Ticket Office by calling 817-257-3764 or by visiting GoFrogs.com. Tickets are $10 for adults, $6 for youth and TCU students will be admitted for free. Group tickets are available for $5 to groups of 20 or more.
The first 500 fans through the door will receive a free t-shirt to commemorate the game and St. Patrick's Day. Students can also receive free pizza, courtesy of Buffalo Bros, at halftime near the student section.
TCU is appearing in the postseason for the 14th time in the last 16 seasons. The 14 appearances are tied for the third most in that time span among Big 12 programs, trailing only Baylor (16) and Oklahoma (16). It is the fifth time in program history that TCU will play in the Postseason Women's NIT. Head coach Raegan Pebley is making her fourth career appearance in the Postseason Women's NIT, including second consecutive.
TCU secured its first postseason win since the 2008 Postseason Women's NIT last season with an 85-80 win over Stephen F. Austin. The close game against SFA last year continued a trend of close games in WNIT play. Six of TCU's seven games played in the Postseason Women's NIT have been decided by seven points or less, including the five point win over Stephen F. Austin and four point loss in overtime to Southern Miss last season.
TCU will face off against UT Rio Grande Valley for the second time this season as the Frogs won 71-67 on Nov. 28, 2015.
TCU is one of seven teams from the Big 12 Conference to earn postseason bids in 2016. TCU is the automatic qualifier from the Big 12 Conference for the Postseason Women's NIT for the third consecutive season. TCU finished the season with a 16-14 record, including an 8-10 mark in Big 12 Conference play. TCU won at least eight games in Big 12 Conference play in each of the last three years and in three of the four years it has been a member of the Big 12 Conference. The Frogs faced one of the most demanding schedules in program history. TCU's game with Texas on Feb. 27, 2016 was its 10th against a ranked foe in 2015-16, tying the TCU school record for most ranked foes faced in a season. TCU faced 10 ranked foes during the 2005-06 season. It faced nine ranked foes in 2012-13 and 2013-14. TCU has previously faced seven or more ranked foes in 1994-95, 2005-06, 2010-11, 2012-13 and 2013-14.
Senior Zahna Medley will look to build on her many career accomplishments in the postseason. Medley is already the all-time TCU leader in career points and career three-point field goals. She averaged 16.2 points per game and hit 79 three-point field goals this season. She needs just two more three-point field goals to tie Jill Sutton's 1997-98 mark of 81 three-point field goals, the most in a single season in TCU history.
2015-16 HIGHLIGHTS
• Zahna Medley became the all-time leading scorer in TCU Basketball history, men's or women's basketball, during TCU's Senior Night win over Kansas on Feb. 29, 2016, passing TCU great Sandora Irvin's previous mark of 1,892 career points.
• Zahna Medley was named the a first team All-Big 12 Conference selection for the third consecutive season, becoming the first player in program history to earn first team honors three times. AJ Alix took home honorable mention honors, her first career all-conference honor.
• TCU began play in the new Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena on Dec. 20, 2015 with a win over Southern Utah. The $72 million renovation gives TCU one of the nation's premier basketball venues.
• The Horned Frogs have signed one of the best recruiting classes in program history and one of the nation's top 10 classes this year with the November 2015 signings of Amber Ramirez, Mikayla Christian, Kianna Ray, Ella Hellessey and Danielle Rainey. Ramirez is the top signee in the class and is ranked among the top 15 players nationally, making her the second highest rated player to sign with TCU in program history behind Sandora Irvin (ranked 6th prior to joining Frogs).
• Ramirez has taken home slew of honors throughout the 2015-16 season including being named the first McDonald's All-American Game selection in program history, a Naismith Trophy finalist, WBCA All-America and Naismith All-America selection.
• TCU ended its two-year tenure in the University Recreation Center on Dec. 12, 2015 when the Horned Frogs hosted No. 3/3 Notre Dame. The Frogs went 21-4 in 25 games in the venue with three of the four losses coming at the hands of teams ranked in the top five nationally. The tenure in the venue included a 12-game home winning streak that was the third longest in TCU history for home games.
TALKING POINTS AND NOTABLE STATISTICS
• TCU is the automatic qualifier from the Big 12 Conference for the Postseason Women's NIT for the third consecutive season.
• Zahna Medley became the all-time leading scorer in TCU Basketball history, men's or women's basketball, during TCU's Senior Night win over Kansas on Feb. 29, 2016, passing TCU great Sandora Irvin's previous mark of 1,892 career points.
• Medley ranks in the top 10 of 14 TCU career statistical categories, including points, assists and three-point field goals made.
• Senior Zahna Medley was a first team All-Big 12 selection for the third time in her career and the first time as a unanimous selection. Sophomore AJ Alix earned honorable mention honors.
• TCU has won at least eight games in Big 12 Conference play in each of the last three years and in three of the four years it has been a member of the Big 12 Conference.
• TCU has used eight different starting lineups this season, including five different lineups in conference games. 10 players on the TCU roster have at least one career start to their name, including nine different players this season.
• TCU is in its second season under the leadership of head coach Raegan Pebley. Pebley led TCU to 18 wins in 2014-15, the most wins in a coaches' first-year at TCU in program history. Pebley is looking to become the first coach in program history to lead a team to the postseason in their first two seasons as the Horned Frogs' head coach.
SERIES NOTABLES
• TCU and UT Rio Grande Valley are meeting for the second time this season. TCU beat UTRGV 71-67 earlier this season but the Frogs were without the services of senior Veja Hamilton and sophomore AJ Alix in the game due to injury.
• TCU is 11-1 all-time against UTRGV, formerly Texas Pan American. TCU has won the last three games in the series with the teams having never met in the postseason before.
• Head coach Raegan Pebley is 1-0 against UTRGV as the TCU head coach.
TCU AND THE POSTSEASON
TCU is appearing in the postseason for the 14th time in the last 16 seasons. The 14 appearances are the fourth most in that time span among Big 12 programs, trailing only Baylor (16) and Oklahoma (16) and tied with Iowa State (14).
The Horned Frogs earned their first-ever postseason bid in 2001 and have made nine trips to the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the second round in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2006. The program has a 5-9 record in the NCAA Tournament.
POSTSEASON NOTABLES
• TCU is making its fifth all-time appearance in the Postseason Women's NIT.
• TCU is 8-13 all-time in the postseason including a 5-9 mark in the NCAA Tournament and a 3-4 mark in the Postseason Women's NIT.
• TCU secured its first postseason win since the 2008 Postseason Women's NIT last season with an 85-80 win over Stephen F. Austin.
• Six of TCU's seven games played in the Postseason Women's NIT have been decided by seven points or less, including a five point win over Stephen F. Austin and four point loss in overtime to Southern Miss last season.
• Big 12 Conference teams were 7-3 in the Postseason Women's NIT a year ago.
• This is the first time in program history that TCU will face a team in the postseason that it faced in non-conference play during the regular season.
PEBLEY AND POSTSEASON WNIT NOTABLES
• Pebley is making her fourth career appearance in the Postseason Women's NIT, including second consecutive.
• Pebley-coached teams are 2-3 all-time in the Postseason Women's NIT, including a 2-0 record at home and 0-3 record away from home.
• With an opening round win the Postseason Women's NIT, Pebley would became the only coach in program history to win a postseason game in each of their first two years as the TCU coach. Pebley became the first coach to win a postseason game in their first year in Fort Worth a year ago. Jeff Mittie won an NCAA Tournament game in his second year at TCU after not registering a postseason win in year one at TCU.
RECENT NOTABLES
• TCU's game with Texas on Feb. 27, 2016 was its 10th against a ranked foe in 2015-16, tying the TCU school record for most ranked foes faced in a season. TCU faced 10 ranked foes during the 2005-06 season. It faced nine ranked foes in 2012-13 and 2013-14. TCU has previously faced seven or more ranked foes in 1994-95, 2005-06, 2010-11, 2012-13 and 2013-14.
• Over a recent 130 minute stretch during the fourth quarter of the most recent Baylor game plus wins over Iowa State, Kansas and No. 17 Oklahoma State - TCU outscored its opponents by 69 total points.
• TCU's 37 fourth quarter points against Baylor on Feb. 10, 2016 were the most by the Frogs this season and the most by a Big 12 Conference team in a game this year. It was the third time this year TCU has scored 30 or more points in a single quarter after scoring 30 in the third quarter against New Orleans and 34 in the fourth quarter against West Virginia on Jan. 24, 2016.
MEDLEY TAKES OVER TCU CAREER SCORING RECORD
Zahna Medley became the all-time leading scorer in TCU history with a free throw in the first quarter of a 55-52 win over Kansas on Senior Night on Feb. 29, 2016. It was her 1,893rd career point, passing the 1,892 points by TCU great Sandora Irvin. Irvin was present for the game, as was Medley's mother - who was seeing Medley play in a home game for the first time during Medley's collegiate career.
Medley moved into second place on the career scoring list on Jan. 30 at Oklahoma State. Medley passed TCU great Helena Sverrisdottir on the all-time scoring list with a jumper in the lane with 8:46 to go in the game that pushed her past Sverrisdottir's 1,764 career total.
SENIOR NIGHT LEFTOVERS
Medley's record-setting night was the highlight of a notable Senior Night for TCU in the 55-52 win over Kansas. TCU won its last home game of the regular season for the 11th consecutive season, a streak that dates to the final home game of the 2005-06 season when the Frogs beat UNLV 82-77 in overtime.
• TCU is now 4-0 on Senior Night since joining the Big 12 Conference.
• TCU won its final three home league games this year, finishing the year 5-4 at home in league games.
• TCU finished the regular season 12-5 at home, including a 6-5 mark in the inaugural games in the Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena.
MEDLEY, ALIX EARN LEAGUE HONORS
Senior All-America candidate Zahna Medley was named a first team All-Big 12 selection for the third time in her career, it was announced on March 2 by the league offices. In addition, sophomore AJ Alix was named an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection. The All-Big 12 honors are chosen by head coaches, who are not allowed to vote for their own student-athletes. Medley was a unanimous selection, signifying that all nine opposing coaches in the Big 12 Conference had Medley on their ballot.
MEDLEY BECOMES FIRST WITH THREE FIRST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS
With her selection as a first team All-Big 12 player for the third straight year, Zahna Medley became the first player in program history to earn three First Team All-Conference honors during their TCU career. Sandora Irvin (2004 and 2005 Conference USA), Emily Carter (2010 and 2011 Mountain West Conference) and Helena Sverrisdottir (2009 and 2010 Mountain West Conference) are the only other players in the history of the program to earn multiple First Team All-Conference honors during her TCU playing careers.
MEDLEY NAMED BIG 12 POW ON 2-15-16
TCU senior All-American candidate Zahna Medley was named the Phillips 66 Big 12 Women's Basketball Player of the Week on Feb. 15, 2016. The honor is selected via a vote of a media panel that covers the Conference.
Medley was honored for the sixth time in her career and the second time as player of the week. It is the 33rd time a TCU player has earned a Conference Player of the Week and 37th time a TCU player has earned Conference Player or Conference Freshman of the Week honors since the start of the 2005-06 season for the Frogs.
It came following a big week for Medley, totaling 43 points for a 21.5 average in TCU's two games last week to move into the Big 12 top 25 in career points. She connected on seven three-pointers and is now just three away from tying the TCU career record. Additionally, Medley needs 73 points to tie Sandora Irvin for TCU's all-time scoring mark.
She had 16 fourth quarter points against No. 4 Baylor and finished the game with 24 as TCU whittled a 25-point lead down to six points in the final minute with a Big 12 Conference record 37-point fourth quarter. Medley hit four three's in the game and made all five of her fourth quarter shots for the Frogs. Against Iowa State, the senior guard had a game-high 19 points, hitting 3-of-6 from three-point range in helping TCU secure its second sweep of the season. The effort versus Iowa State gave Medley her 90th career double-figure game and 19th of the season.
MEDLEY MOVING UP BIG 12 LIST
Senior Zahna Medley passed TCU assistant coach and Texas legend Edwina Brown on the all-time Big 12 Conference scoring list on Jan. 20 against Texas with her three-point field goal early in the first quarter that gave Medley her fifth point on the day.
Medley joined elite company on Nov. 24, 2015 against Prairie View A&M when she became the 45th player to score 1,500 career points as a player in the Big 12 Conference. The list includes current TCU assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Edwina Brown.
• Medley became the 5th player in TCU women's basketball history to reach the 1,500 career point mark.
• Medley became the 14th player in the combined history of TCU women's basketball and TCU men's basketball to reach the 1,500 career point mark when she surpasses the mark.
THREE FOR Z
TCU All-American candidate Zahna Medley has joined elite company of the top three point shooters in Big 12 Conference history. Medley currently ranks 4th on the all-time list. Medley became the fourth player in Big 12 Conference history to record 300 or more career three-point field goals when she nailed a second quarter three at West Virginia on Feb. 24, 2016.
MEDLEY MILESTONES
• Medley reached the 100 assists mark for the 2015-16 season during TCU's game at West Virginia on Feb. 24, 2016. It made Medley the only player in TCU history to post 100 assists in four consecutive seasons.
• Medley became the 26th player in Big 12 Conference history to reach the 1,800 point mark in a career during TCU's 81-75 loss to No. 4 Baylor on Feb. 10, 2016.
• Medley became the 23rd player in Big 12 Conference history to reach 1,900 career points during TCU's Feb. 29, 2016 win over Kansas.
• Medley entered the top 25 in Big 12 Conference history in career points on Feb. 13, 2016 against Iowa State.
MEDLEY AND THE RECORD BOOK
• Medley's 122 career starts rank 2nd in TCU history behind Helena Sverrisdottir who started 127 games from 2007-11.
• Medley's 124 career appearances are close to placing her in the top 10 in program history for career games played. The school record is 135 by Adrianne Ross from 2003-08.
MEDLEY STREAKS
• Medley has scored in double figures or had at least three assists in every game this season and in all but four games of her career (120-of-124).
• Medley has knocked down at least three three-point field goals in 20-of-30 games this season. She accomplished the feat nine times last season and has done it 53 times in her career.
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