Jan. 18, 2008

Complete Game Notes in PDF Format

Game #18
TCU (9-8; 2-1 MWC) vs. Colorado State (2-13; 0-2 MWC)
Fort Worth, Texas -- Daniel-Meyer Coliseum (7,021)
Saturday, Jan. 19 -- 2 p.m. CST
Radio: 88.7 KTCU-FM, gofrogs.com
Internet: Live Radio via KTCU; Live Video Stream and Statistics via All-Access

FORT WORTH--Following a split of two difficult road matchups, TCU returns to Fort Worth Saturday to play host to Colorado State at 2 p.m. at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum. The game marks the front end of a two-game homestand for the Lady Frogs.

TCU hopes to continue building momentum as it enters the heart of Mountain West Conference play following Tuesday's victory at New Mexico, the program's first-ever win against the Lobos in Albuquerque. While the Frogs enter Saturday's matchup having won four of their past five games, CSU has dropped each of its last six decisions.

The Frogs lead the all-time series between the two programs, 4-3, thanks to four consecutive victories since joining the Mountain West Conference two seasons ago. They have won 2-of-3 matchups overall in the series played in Fort Worth.

Tuesday's game can be heard live on the radio in the Metroplex on 88.7 KTCU-FM with Jeff Williams (play-by-play) and Marcy Girton (color) calling the action. All games this season, home and away, will be broadcast live on KTCU. Live statistics and free video stream will be available on GoFrogs.com.

Senior forward Lorie Butler-Rayford is scheduled to sign autographs for Frog fans following the game on the east side of the DMC concourse.

Frog Quick Notes
-TCU owns an all-time record of 15-2 in MWC home games at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum.

-The Frog bench has outscored the opponent bench in 12 of 17 games for an average of 5.3 ppg.

-The Frogs have won the turnover battle in 13 of 17 games, and only Texas A&M has committed fewer turnovers than the Frogs in a contest this season.

-TCU leads the MWC in scoring (71.2 ppg), and offensive boards (15.24 pg) and ranks second in rebounds (39.1), steals (10.82 pg), turnover margin (+5.12) and 3-pointers (5.82 pg).

-Adrianne Ross and UNLV's Sequoia Holmes are the only players among the MWC's top-6 individuals in scoring (sixth), steals (fourth) and assists (fifth).

-Ross is only 20 points shy of reaching the 1,500-point mark for her career.

-Ross' next game played will tie her with assistant coach Tricia Payne (118) for sixth on TCU's career list.

-Emily Carter ranked seventh in the NCAA in free-throw percentage (.921) as of Jan. 17.

-Carter has scored in double figures in six of TCU's last 11 games.

-Helena Sverrisdottir is one of only five players, and the only freshman, to appear in the MWC statistical rankings for assists (13th), rebounds (18th) and scoring (28th).

-Moneka Knight is only two assists shy of the No. 7 position on TCU's career list.

-The senior class of Butler-Rayford, Knight, Jenna Lohse, Helen Roden and Adrianne Ross have combined for 3,359 points, 1,630 rebounds, 948 assists and 654 steals during their careers.

Scouting Colorado State (2-13; 0-2 MWC)
Colorado State returned two starters and two other letterwinners from last season's 8-21 edition. Head Coach Jen Warden's squad, which was selected to finish eighth in an MWC pre-season poll of league coaches and media representatives, enters Saturday's matchup having lost six consecutive games. The Rams opened league play with a close loss on the road at UNLV by only two points before sufferring a 60-39 setback at home to BYU last Saturday.

CSU is one of the MWC's top 3-point shooting teams, hitting at a .345 clip this season to rank third among league squads, but the team has struggled overall offensively. Opponents have outscored the Rams by an average of 11.5 points per game while totaling a league-high 69.7 ppg.

Senior guard Sara Hunter carries much of the offensive load for the Rams, averaging a team-high 11.3 ppg. She posted the top single-game scoring effort in the league this season during a 41-point outburst against San Francisco Nov. 13 in which she hit eight 3-pointers. Sophomore forward Juanise Cornell ranks second on the team at 8.7 ppg and leads CSU's efforts on the glass at 7.8 rebounds per game, which ranks third among all MWC players.

Ross Loves Facing Rams
Adrianne Ross has posted her highest career scoring average against a Mountain West Conference opponent versus Colorado State with a 21.0 ppg average in four all-time meetings. Ross owns three consecutive 23-plus-point efforts against the Rams and totaled her high mark of 26 points during last year's meeting in Fort Worth in only 22 minutes of play.

Ross' second-favorite foe to play in the league is New Mexico, as she averges 19.6 ppg against the Lobos with two 20-point performances.

Frogs Make Leap in RPI
TCU, which hovered around the mid-100 level in the RPI rankings prior to the start of MWC play, currently sits 81st according to College RPI.com, which attempts to project the NCAA formula used to help assist in selecting at-large bids to the NCAA Tournament field.

The Frogs' victory over New Mexico, which was ranked above TCU in the RPI, helped move them up six slots in the projections. Also aiding TCU's cause was No. 18/19 Oklahoma State's recent victory over then-No. 6 Oklahoma. The Frogs downed OSU last month by 34 points to hand the Cowgirls their lone loss thus far.

Despite a slow start to the season, TCU still controls its destiny to earn an eight straight NCAA berth. Last season's squad finished 59th in the RPI while earning an at-large bid.

Carter Stepping Up off the Bench
Emily Carter, in her first season of action with the Frogs, has given her team a boost recently off the bench, hitting double figures in scoring in six of the last 11 games. The left-handed sharpshooter most recently poured in 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting, with three 3-pointers, to help TCU earn a big road win at New Mexico.

Part of Carter's effectiveness has been her success at the free-throw line, where she currently leads the Mountain West Conference in free-throw percentage with a rate of 92.1 percent. She is 35-of-38 at the line this season and at one point mid-season led all NCAA players in the statistic.