Dec. 31, 2006
Final Stats
FORT WORTH, Texas - In its final tune-up before Mountain West Conference play begins, TCU recorded its largest margin of victory this season by cruising past UMKC (3-11), 68-45, Sunday afternoon at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum.
The Lady Frogs have been victorious in 10 of their last 11 games and enter league action with an impressive 10-4 record.
"I thought we did a better job on our defense," junior guard Adrianne Ross said after the game. "Coach (Jeff) Mittie was not pleased with our effort yesterday, so we came into the game with one goal in mind: play solid defense."
And the Lady Frogs did just that.
TCU played pressure defense through most of the game, forcing 26 turnovers. Ross tallied four steals for the Lady Frogs and senior forward Hanna Biernacka had three, respectively. The Purple and White recorded 31 points off turnovers.
"We have a very quick and aggressive team," said Ross. "I think when we use our speed and athleticism, not many people can stop us. We're learning to play the game instead of the scoreboard."
Ross led the scoring parade with 23 points for the Lady Frogs; she also recorded a career-best five 3-pointers. Senior guard Ashley Davis added 16 points and team-high six rebounds, and Biernacka and sophomore center Micaela Younger scored seven points. Biernacka totaled five assists and junior guard Helen Roden had three.
The Lady Frogs had no trouble in the game and led throughout the entire contest.
TCU hit on its first three possessions for an early 8-0 lead, eventually running the margin to 13-2. The only points for UMKC during the run came at the 16:45 mark, as the Kangaroos' Stephanie Brown found herself open in the lane on an inbounds pass for an easy layin.
Thanks to a 10-0 run to close out the first period, TCU took a 15-point lead (31-16) into the break.
The teams traded free throws to open the half, but the Lady Frogs stretched their lead to 21 with three baskets off UMKC turnovers. The Lady Frogs used a 12-2 run to push the lead out to 27 with 14:10 remaining.
TCU took its largest lead of the game -28 points--with 10:56 left when junior forward Lorie Butler-Rayford dished the ball to Davis for the bucket.
Leigh Mead paced UMKC with 12 points and Alysa Klein added 10.
The Lady Frogs will open MWC play on Wednesday, Jan. 3, when UNLV (6-6) rolls into town at noon.
