The TCU women’s basketball team celebrated Senior Night in style on Saturday as they defeated Oklahoma 76-66 in the last women’s basketball game in Daniel-Meyer Coliseum.
Sparked by sophomore guard Veja Hamilton’s 16 points off the bench, the Frogs outlasted the Sooners as seniors Latricia Lovings, Megan Henson and Alexann Yancey played their final home game in purple and white.
Hamilton’s 16 points marked her highest output in the Big 12 season, while sophomore guard Zahna Medley and junior guard Natalie Ventress lead the team in scoring with 20 each. Ventress did most of her work from beyond the arc, with four 3-pointers in the game.
Fans surrounded the players after the game, as the crowd was allowed onto the court for autographs and pictures to send off the seniors.
“It was a great way to see the DMC off,” TCU head coach Jeff Mittie said.
The stadium is set for renovation at the end of the season, and is expected to re-open for the 2015-2016 season.
Mittie added that he was pleased with the way the game ended, when Henson found Yancey on a fast-break layup that would turn out to be the final points of the game.
“It was just like in the movies,” Mittie said.
Lovings, who had what Mittie called a “typical LT game,” finished with 8 points and 7 rebounds to go along with 4 blocks and 4 steals. She extended her consecutive games with a block streak to 68 in the win.
“We came in the game knowing we needed this win,” Lovings said. “We knew we needed to focus on the game, and not our emotions.”
Henson, who twice saw action in the game, said that she was very pleased with the way her Senior Night turned out.
“It was great to get a win,” Henson said. “Bottom line is, I love my teammates.”
Yancey, a transfer from Oklahoma, said that she enjoyed scoring against her former team.
“I was saying prayers the whole way up,” Yancey said. “It felt really good to get in there and score for my team.”
TCU overcame an early deficit and never trailed after the 7-minute mark of the first half. The Sooners were down by double digits for most of the second half before a late run closed the gap.
The win helped the Frogs improve to 16-10 on the year (6-10 in the Big 12). Oklahoma dropped to 17-13 (8-9 in the Big 12).
TCU will close out their regular season on the road against Kansas State in Manhattan, Kansas, on Monday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.