The TCU women’s basketball team used a strong second half performance Thursday night to down Texas Southern, 76-55, at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum.
Leading by only one at the break, the Horned Frogs shot nearly 68 percent from floor in the second half of play, including 83.3 percent from behind the arc, to pull-away following the 15-minute intermission. TCU’s bench did most of the damage, scoring 23 second half points.
Overall, the Purple and White’s bench outscored TSU, 33-15, Thursday night.
The Horned Frogs were dangerous from deep all night, going 6-of-8 shooting for 75 percent, which is the highest three-point percentage in a game since dialing up 80 percent against San Diego State in 2008.
With the win, TCU moved to 7-6 on the season, while Texas Southern dropped to 2-9.
Sophomore Starr Crawford had a solid outing for the Frogs, scoring a game-high 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the floor. She was followed by Helena Sverrisdottir, who moved into No. 2 all-time in career assists Thursday with six assists to go along with 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting, including 3-of-4 from deep. Freshman Briesha Wynn was also productive Thursday, tying a career-high with 10 second half points.
Finally, Antoinette Thompson chipped in with a seasonal-best eight points, while freshman Latricia Lovings in only her third game back posted a career-high eight points on 4-of-6 shooting.
TSU had three players score in double-figures, including NaDosha Strickland, who posted 13 points. Jasmine Cannon tallied 12 points, while Gabrielle Rosiji recorded 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting.
Thompson helped put TCU ahead 33-28 early in the second period, scoring five-straight points, including a tough three-point play on a backdoor lay-up. Sverrisdottir’s three with a little over 16 minutes remaining was part of an 18-4 run for the Horned Frogs.
Micah Garoutte’s turn-around jumper off a pass from Sverrisdottir made the score 45-30 at the 14:28 mark of the second half. Fellow senior Rachel Rentschler increased the Horned Frog lead to 49-32 a few moments later off a cross from Henson.
With a little over 10 minutes remaining in the half, Lovings gave TCU a 19-point lead at 53-34 finding the bottom of the net on a turn-around jumper. The Tigers continued to battle though, pulling within 14 at the 8:15 mark of the second period. Crawford put an end to the mini-run for TSU, scoring four-straight points to push the Frog lead back to 60-42.
Two-straight three’s by Sverrisdottir gave TCU its biggest lead of the night up until that point at 68-47 a few moments later. The Frogs would push their lead to 25 and Wynn put the finishing touches on the night, scoring a fast break lay-up to give the Frogs’ the 76-55 victory.
Senior Emily Carter jumped started the Purple and White early, scoring TCU’s first five points of the game. Following a 10-0 run by Texas Southern, Lovings found the bottom of the net inside the paint to put a halt to the run for the moment, but TSU kept firing away, jumping out to a 17-7 lead.
Two backdoor lay-ups by DeLisa Gross and Crawford brought the Frogs within nine, while some beautiful ball movement on the next trip down the court allowed freshman Aron Garcia to score easily underneath the basket to make the score 20-15. Garcia’s bucket was part of an 8-3 run for the Horned Frogs.
Lovings’ basket off the pass form Carter with a less then 3 minutes remaining made the score 22-19 in favor of the Tigers. Sverrisdottir’s look ahead to Lovings’ made the score 22-21 at the 2:19 mark of the first half. With the assist, the senior moved into No. 2 all-time in career assists in school history, surpassing former Frog great Jill Sutton.
A driving lay-up by freshman guard Meagan Henson in the closing seconds of the first half gave TCU a 25-24 advantage at the 15-minute intermission.
TCU will return to the court Sunday, Jan. 2 against nationally ranked Oklahoma. Tip-off is set for 5:00 p.m. CT.