Women’s Basketball edged by BYU, 61-58

TCU women’s basketball battled hard in their first game of the San Diego State University Thanksgiving Classic but fell short to Brigham Young University (BYU), 61-58.

Although the Horned Frogs had four players in double figures along with better field goal and three-point shooting percentage than the Cougars, it was rebounds that ended up plaguing TCU.

Not only did the Frogs have only 38 total boards compared to BYU’s 47, they were out-rebounded on the offensive glass 17-8.

This difference would prove pivotal, as BYU scored 13 second chance points in the game.

After shooting 50 percent as a team in the second quarter, TCU went into the halftime break with a slim 35-33 lead. The Horned Frogs then blew the game open, going on a 9-0 run to go up 44-33.

BYU would respond with a 14-2 run to end the quarter and go up by three. A back-and-forth final quarter would end with a crucial steal for BYU and a loss for TCU.

For the second consecutive game, guard Kianna Ray led the Horned Frogs in scoring with 15 points, all of which came from three-pointers. She has made 14 of the team’s 31 three-pointers on the season.

Forward Amy Okonkwo, center Jordan Moore and guard Lauren Heard had combined for 33 points in the game. Okonkwo led the Frogs with eight rebounds.

Women’s Basketball rebounds from loss with dominant victory

After dropping their first game of the season Friday to BYU, TCU women’s basketball scored effectively and efficiently to dominate San Diego State University (SDSU), 81-64.

Although they were outrebounded by the Aztecs 41 to 37, the Horned Frogs forced 17 turnovers and scored 26 points off of them.

Guard Kianna Ray scored a career-high 23 points on 8-12 shooting. She added seven rebounds, five assists, three steals and one block to earn a spot on the SDSU Thanksgiving Classic All-Tournament Team.

“…I especially love the the IQ, the communication, and the leadership that Kianna Ray is giving us,” said head coach Raegan Pebley. “Obviously, she is bringing scoring, but I truly don’t know that I have ever had a player who is as much of a coach on the floor.”

Along with Ray, forward Amy Okonkwo and center Jordan Moore also finished with double-digit points, recording 12 and 17, respectively.

The Horned Frogs will return to the court in the Big 12/SEC Challenge at 8 p.m. on Nov. 29 in Oxford, Mississippi against Ole Miss.