Two days after beating No. 6 seed Texas A&M, the No. 11 seed TCU Lady Frogs will attempt to beat their second consecutive higher-seeded opponent of the tournament when they play No. 3 seed Rutgers tonight. The Frogs (19-11) relied on balanced scoring and fierce rebounding in their opening round victory against A&M.
Junior forward Ashley Davis led the way with a career night in both categories. She had 20 points, 12 rebounds and shot 4-of-7 from beyond the arc. Davis said in a press release from both TCU and Rutgers that the team will be ready for the challenge the Scarlet Knights (26-4) will bring.
“They are a great team,” Davis said in the release. “We know they play very physical and rebounding will be a big thing we have to do. We are looking forward to playing the same game and playing aggressive and keeping them off the glass.”
Along with keeping Rutgers off the glass, TCU will be forced to keep senior guard Cappie Pondexter out of the paint. Pondexter is averaging 21.5 points per game.
Davis said it will be no different from all the other great players the team has played this year.
“Cappie is one of the best players in the nation and she is definitely what keeps that team going,” Davis said. “Just like any other game, we’ve faced great players all year. They also have other great players that could step up, so we can’t just focus on one player.”
Frogs head coach Jeff Mittie agreed with Davis’ comments on Rutgers’ versatility.
“You start with Pondexter but you don’t end there,” Mittie said about Rutgers’ talent level. “Campbell (Michelle) is a veteran in there, and defensively they can put a lot of pressure on you.”
Much like Davis’ comments regarding her earlier, Pondexter said this game will be no different from the others when it comes to the Frogs defending her and her teammates roles.
“I know I am the focal point of every team’s defense,” Pondexter said in the release. “We just have to have every player bring what they can. That’s the bottom line.”
Pondexter said she is paying no mind to the notion of TCU having something to prove as the underdog team tonight.
“Every team has something to prove now that it is March Madness,” Pondexter said.
All quotes provided by TCU media relations.