The Horned Frog women’s basketball team improved to 2-0 Sunday afternoon, defeating the University of New Orleans 85-36 at the TCU Campus Recreation Center in Fort Worth, Texas.
The Frogs held New Orleans to 12 points in the first half, marking the 10th time in program history the Frogs held their opponent to 12 points or less in one half of a game. The 36 total points allowed were the 11th fewest of all time for the Frogs.
Senior guard and All-American candidate Zahna Medley led the charge and finished the contest with 24 points, including nine from three point range. Redshirt sophomore Destynee Hives-McCray also had a strong outing, recording 10 points from two point range.
First-year center Jordan Moore also played well, totaling eight points, two defensive rebounds, and two blocks for the Frogs.
“We wanted to see how we could run with a team who likes to run,” TCU head coach Reagan Pebley said. “I was happy we were able to take care of the ball considering the number of possessions there were.”
The Frogs were propelled by multiple runs of 10 consecutive points or more in the blowout win.
“We’ve got a few different drills that we do in practice about getting consecutive stops, and stops include rebounds,” Pebley said. “Defense isn’t going to be defense if we don’t rebound, so we were able to translate some of what we are doing in practice into the game, and create those runs.
The Frogs scored 16 points on the fast-break alone and 40 in the paint.
“We know we have a good transition offense but our gameplay was to push primary because we knew they weren’t as good defensively in the transition area,” Medley said. “That was our game plan and we just stuck to it and executed.”
Medley spoke highly of performances from the younger players such as Moore.
“We have a lot of good younger players and freshmen that are coming and are being presence, and they are really good at it. So we have to give them the ball,” Medley said. “Jordan is only a freshman and she’s getting used to playing at the collegiate level and getting strong and building confidence in the preseason will be really good for her.”
As easy as the win appeared to come to the Frogs, Hives-McCray said the ballgame was very physical.
“New Orleans played very scrappy and we knew that coming into the game and were preparing for it,” Hives-McCray said. “I think that’s why we were able to elevate our game to match that grit and scrappiness on the offense and defensive end.”
Pebley said the team made progress in regards as to where the players need to be offensively.
“We are seeing that ideal trademark in our system where multiple players are hitting double figures,” Pebley said.
The team gets back to action when they face SMU Wednesday night in Dallas. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
