SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Sophomore Starr Crawford recorded 16 points and 13 boards Wednesday night to lead TCU to an 49-47 victory over San Diego State at Viejas Arena.
TCU (9-6) continued a three-game winning streak and is 1-0 in Mountain West Conference play. San Diego State dropped to 6-7 overall and 0-1 in league play. The 49-47 victory is the second win in the Jeff Mittie era and fourth in school history where the Frogs have scored less then 50 points and won.
Crawford posted her fourth double-double of the season Wednesday, while Emily Carter connected on 14 points on 6-of-14 shooting from the floor. Fellow senior Helena Sverrisdottir just missed her second triple-double of her career, wrapping up play with seven points, 12 boards and eight assists. The All-America candidate needs only three more assists to become TCU’s all-time leader in assists for a career.
On the night, TCU, who went on a 30-10 run between the end of the first half and the beginning of the second half, did most of its damage inside, holding a 34-18 advantage in the paint. The Frogs also out-rebounded SDSU, 48-29, including 20-3 on the offensive glass.
San Diego State’s Kalena Tutt scored 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the floor. Three other Aztec players posted nine points apiece, respectively.
Just like she did in the first half, Crawford got going early, scoring the Frogs’ first four points of the second period, including a beautiful slashing lay-up off an assist by Sverrisdottir. Carter scored a fast-break lay-up a few moments later off a look ahead from Sverrisdottir and the Frogs jumped out to a nine-point advantage at the 11:56 mark of the second half.
Freshman Briesha Wynn’s jumper pushed the lead to 11, but SDSU continued to battle, scoring a three-point play the next trip down the court to make the score, 39-31. Sverrisdottir found Crawford underneath the bucket with less then 10 minutes to go in the half to make the score 45-31.
The Aztecs cut the lead to 10, but Crawford connected on a tough three-point play down low to push the TCU lead back to 13. SDSU fired right back though to pull within four down the stretch following a 9-0 run.
Following a free throw by Sverrisdottir, the Aztecs Sajoyia Griffin nailed a deep three with 49.8 seconds left in the contest to bring SDSU within two at 49-47. A couple of key rebounds by Crawford and Antoinette Thompson helped TCU run a little clock before Sverrisdottir knocked away an SDSU pass in the closing seconds to seal the 49-47 TCU victory.
Crawford, who opened the game scoring TCU’s first seven points, put the Frogs on the board early, netting five-straight points, including a three from the left side of the floor. Gross’ put-back brought the Frogs within seven with a little over 14 minutes to go at 16-9.
Trailing 19-9, Carter helped ignite a 10-0 run for the Frogs, finding the bottom of the net to make the score 19-13 at the 11:56 mark of the first half. Sverrisdottir got into the act the next trip down the court and TCU was in business as Carter scored four-straight points to tie the game at 19-19.
Carter’s scoop shot halted a mini 4-0 for SDSU as the Frogs trailed 23-21 with a little over 6 minutes remaining in the first half. A couple of free throws later and TCU regained the lead at 25-23. The senior, who scored six of TCU’s final 10 points in the quarter, continued to push the tempo late in the half just beating the shot clock on a turn-around jumper to give TCU a four-point advantage.
Fellow senior Micah Garoutte’s lay-up helped the Frogs close out the half on a 20-4 run to bring the halftime score to 29-23.
TCU will return to the hardwood Saturday against UNLV at home. Tip-off is set for Noon at the DMC.