Emily Carter and Helena Sverrisdottir combined to score 12 of TCU’s last 13 points to lead the Horned Frogs to a 76-69 victory over No. 14 Oklahoma Sunday night at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum.
In a game that saw nine lead changes and 10 ties, Carter made bucket-after-bucket down the stretch, including six-straight points in the closing minutes that helped seal the Frog victory in front of 4,003 spectators at the DMC. The senior finished the night with a game-high 26 points, while also grabbing eight boards. Sverrisdottir, who moved into No. 4 all-time in career field goals made in program history Sunday, was just as dangerous, scorching the Sooners for 24 points on 6-of-9 shooting, including 12-of-13 from the charity stripe.
Finally, sophomore DeLisa Gross had another solid outing with 11 points and six boards. Gross has now scored in double-figures in five of her last seven outings. Fellow sophomore Starr Crawford just missed her fourth double-double of the season with a game-high 14 rebounds, while also chipping in with nine points.
Oklahoma, who was held to only two field goals down the stretch, was fueled by the return of Fort Worth native Whitney Hand Sunday. Hand, who saw her first action in over a year Sunday night, totaled 24 points, while also grabbing 11 boards. All-America candidate Danielle Robinson, who was hassled by an aggressive Horned Frog defense all night, totaled 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting.
Overall, TCU moved to 8-6 on the year with the win, while the Sooners dropped to 10-3 on the season. By defeating the nationally ranked Sooners Sunday, the Purple and White have now upended at least one ranked opponent in each of the last nine seasons.
Gross opened the second half recording a three-point play on a lob pass by Antoinette Thompson to bring TCU, who scored seven of the first eight points to start the second half, within one. Crawford’s put back at the 19:11 mark gave the Frogs their first lead at 33-32 since early in the game.
Hand would put OU back on top a few moments later, but the Frogs continued to battle, retaking the lead numerous times. The two teams would continue to trade possessions until Crawford regained the Frog lead, scoring a contested lay-up following a Thompson miss.
Carter would increase the Frog advantage to 48-43, netting a running lay-up with a little over 10 minutes to go. The senior’s bucket was part of a mini 6-0 run for TCU, but OU regained the lead halfway through the second period on some streaky shooting from behind the arc by Aaryn Ellenberg.
Carter’s fast-break lay-up right around the 7 minute mark gave the Frogs their largest lead at that point in the contest at 58-53, but OU would score the next five points to tie the ballgame at 58-58 at the 6:21 mark of the second half.
With TCU up 63-61 with 3 minutes to go, Oklahoma tied the game, but Carter answered right back, nailing a triple the next trip down the court to give the Frogs’ a 66-63 advantage. The All-America candidate then proceeded to connect on a tough three-point play to give TCU a four-point advantage with only 2 minutes remaining in the contest.
Sverrisdottir increased the TCU lead to seven, scoring a three-point play and a turn-around bucket to make the score 74-67. A couple of key free throws down the stretch secured the 76-69 Horned Frog victory Sunday night.
Oklahoma jumped out to an early 7-0 lead in the first half, but Sverrisdottir put an end to the opening-run, scoring a running lay-up in the early minutes of the contest.
With the score 13-4 in favor of OU, Carter got into the mix, scoring two-straight buckets, including a turn-around jumper on the left baseline to make the score 13-8 with a little over 12 minutes remaining.
Briesha Wynn’s bucket off an assist from Thompson midway through the first half cut the OU deficit to 18-12, but the Sooners continued their hot shooting from deep, nailing a three at the 8:57 mark of the first period.
Gross’ jumper with less then 5 minutes remaining before halftime brought TCU within 23-16, while Carter’s deep three from the top of the key moved the Frogs within six late in the half. The senior, who scored 10 of TCU’s first 22 points, continued her offensive presence the next trip down the court, connecting on a three-point play on a tough driving lay-up.
A late lay-up and two free throws by Sverrisdottir cut into the deficit, but Hand recorded one of her four triples in the game in the closing seconds as Oklahoma took a 32-28 lead into the halftime break.
TCU will open conference play Wednesday, Jan. 5 at San Diego State. Tip-off is set for 9 p.m. CT.