TCU women’s basketball extended their win streak to three games Sunday as they rode a huge day from center Jordan Moore to a blowout win over Army in the Maggie Dixon Classic, 63-38.
“We talked about it before the game: how we’re not just playing for ourselves, I mean, we’re playing for something bigger than that,” Moore said. “It felt pretty good just being able to like know that everybody’s on the same page in terms of how we’re playing.”
The Maggie Dixon Classic is an annual game held to honor the life and coaching legacy of the late Maggie Dixon, the Army women’s basketball head coach from 2005-2006 and the sister of current TCU men’s basketball head coach, Jamie Dixon.
“I can’t say it enough: how special it is and humbled we are that we have been entrusted with the opportunity to host this game,” said TCU head coach Raegan Pebley. “This game was about Maggie…her life is continuing to impact people.”
Moore was unstoppable for the entire game. In 21 minutes of play, she finished with 22 points on 11-13 shooting. On top of that, she recorded eight rebounds and a block.
She played a big role in the Horned Frogs outrebounding the Black Knights 46-35, leading to 10 second-chance points for TCU.
“I’m really happy with where our rebounding is at right now,” Pebley said.
The Horned Frogs held the Black Knights to just 27 percent from the field. Army’s 38 points were the fewest TCU has allowed this season.
“Our defense has just continued to really have an identity, and we’re going to continue to work on that,” Pebley said. “It’s what fuels our offense.”
Forward Amy Okonkwo was instrumental in the defensive success, totaling a game-high five steals of 15 turnovers forced by the Horned Frogs.
“Amy did her job,” Moore said. “That’s really good for us. That’s good for the whole team.”
After TCU held a slim 17-16 lead at the end of the first quarter, guard Kianna Ray led the Horned Frogs on a 17-4 run in the second quarter to put the Frogs up 34-20 going into the halftime break.
Ray finished with nine points on three three-pointers and a game-high nine assists. She has accounted for almost half of TCU’s made three-pointers this season while shooting 54 percent from beyond the arc.
It was all TCU in the second half as the efficiency of Moore, facilitating of Ray and stout defense of Okonkwo overwhelmed Army. The Horned Frogs outscored the Black Knights 29-18 in the second half to cruise to victory.
Guard Lauren Heard finished with nine points, four assists and three rebounds for the Horned Frogs.
TCU women’s basketball will return to action and look to continue their winning streak at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 8, against Montana State at Schollmaier Arena.
