March 6, 2010

Box Score |  Notes

PROVO, Utah—TCU closed out the regular season by stumbling on the road Saturday during a 70-65 loss to BYU at the Cougars’ Marriott Center. The squad trailed by as many as 16 points in the second half before rallying, but BYU was able to hold the Frogs at bay late.

The Frogs finished the regular season with a 22-7 overall record and 12-4 mark in Mountain West Conference play. The squad clinched the MWC championship during last Tuesday’s home win over New Mexico.

Junior guard Emily Carter led TCU with a game-high 18 points. She went 4-for-7 from 3-point range and 6-of-6 at the charity stripe. Freshman forward Starr Crawford totaled her fifth double-double of the season with 14 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.

Also reaching double figures was junior forward Rachel Rentschler, who scored a season-high 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting, including a 2-for-2 showing from outside the arc. Sophomore guard Antoinette Thompson totaled nine points, each coming during TCU’s late rally.

Four Cougars scored in double figures, led by guard Haley Hall with 17 points. Forward Kristen Riley recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, while guard Mindy Bonham fell just short of one of her own with 12 points and a game-high nine assists. Forward Alexis Kaufusi totaled 10 points.

TCU trailed by a 60-44 count with only 8:18 to play following a 3-pointer by Cougar forward Coriann Wood before putting together one last-ditch rally. The squad began by reeling off seven straight points to slice the deficit to single digits. A layup and ensuing free throw by Gross after she was fouled moved TCU within eight points with 3:31 to play, and a 3-pointer by Rentschler cut the lead to only five, 63-58, with 2:35 left.

Following a bucket by Hall, Thompson added another traditional 3-point play before junior guard/forward Helena Sverrisdottir brought the Frogs within two points, 65-63, with 50.0 seconds remaining. TCU then needed a stop for one final chance but was unable to get it, as a Hall 3-pointer with 18 seconds left, and only one left on the shot clock, all but ended the Frogs’ comeback hopes.

Coming up big for TCU during its rally was the team’s ability to reach the charity stripe. The Frogs went 21-of-28 at the line for the game, compared to only 10-of-13 for BYU. Field-goal shooting proved to be the game’s equalizer, though, as the Cougars posted a 44.1 to 36.5 percent advantage for the game. The squad also had seven more points off turnovers thanks to a full-court trap look that gave TCU fits in the early portions of both halves.

TCU experienced a rough start to the game against the BYU press. The Frogs turned the ball over five times in the opening five minutes, and the Cougars were able to take full advantage of the mistakes. BYU jumped out to a 10-point advantage, 17-7, with 12 of the points coming off TCU turnovers. The squad was also accurate from outside, sinking 4-of-9 attempts from beyond the arc to begin the contest.

BYU cooled off from the field and finished the half shooting only 37.0 percent, but the Frogs had even more trouble, making only 4-of-13 attempts from inside the arc. Both squads finished the period with 11 miscues, but the Cougars cashed in Frog mistakes for a 14-7 scoring advantage.

With the regular season now at a close, the Frogs focus their attention on the postseason. First up is the Conoco Mountain West Conference Championships, which takes place May 9-13 in Las Vegas. TCU, the tourney’s No. 1 seed, opens play Friday, March 12 in the semifinal round. Tip-off time for the game, which will be televised live by The MountainWest Sports Network (The Mtn.) has been set for Noon PT at the Thomas & Mack Center.