TCU was unable to overcome a 10 point deficit late in the second half, falling to North Carolina State 85-79.
Four Frogs scored in double figures led by Natalie Ventress with 21. Whitney Williams had 12 and Delisa Gross added 13.
Ashley Colbert came off the bench and scored ten first half points to keep the Frogs in the game. She finished with 16.
“She was able to get to the free throw line,” said head coach Jeff Mittie. “She knocked some free throws down. It was big for her to step up. I thought she had a good performance.”
The 32 three pointers attempted was fifth all-time.
“It really does open up the court because we have a lot of people that drive a lot and they get to the rim,” said Williams. “If we can stretch out a team by hitting some threes, then it really is important to us.”
The Wolfpack (3-0) was led by Bonae Holston with 17 points.
NC State went on a 7-0 run to go up 68-61 at the 10:33 mark in the second half. Ventress and Colbert would cut the lead to three points at 70-67 but NC state answered right back.
An and-one by Erica Donovan followed by a Myisha Goodwin-Coleman jumper put the Wolfpack up 75-67. Williams hit a three to make it a five point game with over five minutes left.
Goodwin-Coleman responded on the other end with a three pointer. Holston extended the lead to 82-72 with three minutes left.
TCU cut the lead down to six with two minutes left. The Frogs missed a pair of shots with less than a minute remaining. NC State took advantage and extended their lead to seven on Goodwin-Coleman free throw.
The Frogs gave themselves a chance when Thompson hit a three to cut the lead back to four with 20 seconds left. The Frogs were forced to foul and Tasler hit both free throws. Williams missed a three as time expired.
“We missed some shots that were good opportunities for us and I thought our offense was better today,” said Mittie. “Putting up 79, our offense is much better than the other day. Our players played better together today. This is a step forward for us.”
The Wolfpack jumped out to a quick 8-0 lead. Kody Burke scored four quick points to lead NC State. Thompson ended the TCU scoring drought at the 17:20.
Colbert came off the bench and kept TCU in the game. The Frogs caught fire from three, hitting five of eleven in the first half. A three pointer by Ventress tied the game at 22 with 11:18 remaining in the first.
The Frogs and the Wolfpack traded the lead eight times. NC State took a 44-43 lead into the locker room.
“I thought both teams fought really hard,” said Mittie. “They did a better job on the glass and they did a better job of getting to the free throw line than us. Those numbers are the difference in the game.”
TCU will return to action Friday, Nov. 25 at the UCF Thanksgiving Classic against Hartford.
