The TCU women’s basketball team will try to extend their winning streak to three games as they host the New Mexico Lobos.

The Lady Frogs are fresh off their two-game conference road trip where they had victories over the Boise State Broncos and the Air Force Falcons. The Lady Frogs found ways to score explosively, like when the Lady Frogs went on a 27-4 run against the Falcons.

The Lobos are winless in conference play and are on a five-game losing streak. Despite New Mexico’s 6-13 overall record, players said the Lady Frogs still expect a challenge from New Mexico.

The Lobos are an energetic team that are capable of pulling an upset, senior guard Antoinette Thompson said. She also noted the Lobos defeated the Lady Frogs in Fort Worth last season.

Thompson said the Lady Frogs are confident heading into this game because of the two consecutive conference road wins.

Freshman guard Natalie Ventress said she agreed and the Lady Frogs were excited to be playing back at home again after the road victories. Ventress has been a key offensive member in recent games, scoring more than 20 points in three out of the Lady Frogs’ past four games.

First-year UNM head coach Yvonne Sanchez said her team has fought injuries and has struggled this season, but the Lobos would still come into Fort Worth expecting to turn their season around.

Last season, New Mexico started conference play with an 0-5 record, but after an upset against the Lady Frogs, the Lobos went on to finish the year in the semi-finals of the Mountain West Conference Tournament.

Sanchez said if the Lobos could control the tempo of the game, another upset could happen this year. The Lobos planned to focus on a zone-read offense to keep the game at their pace, she said.

“We can’t afford to play a track meet against TCU,” Sanchez said. “We just need to keep the score down, avoid turnovers and execute.”

The Lady Frogs forced a season-high 29 turnovers against Air Force, 19 of those turnovers being steals.

The Lady Frogs are 3-2 in Mountain West Conference play and 10-10 overall. Tipoff at the Daniel-Meyer Coliseum is set for Saturday at noon.

TCU vs. University of New Mexico

Day: Saturday
Date: Jan. 28, 2012
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Time: 12:00 p.m. CT
TV: The Mtn. (Live)
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