The TCU women’s basketball team looks to keep up its Big 12 local luck when it hosts the Mountaineers and the Jayhawks in the University Recreation Center this week.
The Frogs fell to the two schools earlier this season on the road. But with a 12-3 overall record at home, TCU has proven they can turn out a win when in front of its familiar crowd.
TCU (15-11, 7-8 Big 12) will take on West Virginia (16-11, 6-9) Tuesday night at 7 p.m. and Kansas State (15-11, 5-10 Big 12) Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. on its own court.
The Frogs lost to the Mountaineers 76-71 in Morgantown, West Virginia even after scoring 44 points in the final 20 minutes of the game. TCU rallied and pulled within 10 points with six minutes remaining, but it wasn’t enough to make up for the slow start the Frogs had in the first half.
The last four games between TCU and West Virginia have ended with a final score with eight or less points separating the teams. The Mountaineers lead the Big 12 in blocks and are ranked second in offensive rebounds and third in rebounding.
TCU lost to the Wildcats earlier this season in Manhattan, Kansas, 93-79. After a rough start against Kansas State, TCU could not push past the 10-point cushion the Wildcats held throughout the game. Not only did the Frogs lose in points but also in rebounds, assists and point percentage.
Saturday’s game will be TCU’s Senior Day because it will be the last home game of the season. After Saturday, TCU will travel down to Austin to take on Texas on March 3 for its final game of the regular season. Once the regular season wraps, TCU will compete in the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship in Dallas, March 6-9.
TCU has proven they should not be underestimated the second time around, especially when they have home team advantage. The Frogs defeated Texas Tech earlier this month at home 71-60 after losing in Lubbock, Texas 52-37 in their first 2015 game.
TCU is coming off a loss from Saturday’s game against No. 3 Baylor in Waco, Texas at the Ferrell Center. The Bears are undefeated in Big 12 conference play and continued to push through their competition. They beat the Horned Frogs by a final score of 91-75.
Keeping the score within six points at nine minutes in the first half, TCU and Baylor went back and forth early on in the game. But when TCU went down by double digits at 30-18 before halftime, it was hard for the Frogs to keep turning out enough baskets to keep up with the Bears.
The Frogs’ 75 points were the most scored against the Bears this season. But with the Bears leading in rebounds 42-27 and in field goal percentage 57.4 percent compared to TCU’s 38.5 percent, TCU could not seem to get the ball in its basket enough to come out with the win.
Last season, TCU ended the season with a 13-4, 5-4 Big 12 home record, including the program’s first win against Texas and a win against Oklahoma while in Fort Worth. TCU looks to use the last of their 2015 home court advantage against these two intense competitors before they head into postseason play.
