Jan. 27, 2012
GAME DAY INFORMATION
GAME NOTES 
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TCU Horned Frogs (10-10, 3-2 Mountain West)
Head Coach: Jeff Mittie
Career Record: 421-195 (10-10 Season)
School Record: 270-136 (13th Season)
New Mexico (6-13, 0-5 Mountain West)
Head Coach: Yvonne Sanchez
New Mexico Career Record: 6-13 (6-13 season)
Location: Fort Worth, Texas • Arena: Daniel-Meyer Coliseum
Rankings: TCU - NR/NR • New Mexico - NR/NR
Last Time Out: TCU defeated Air Force, 66-44
Television: The Mtn.
Television Talent: Chuck LaMendola (Play-By-Play); Jeff Lewis (Color)
Live Video: none
Live Audio: http://gofrogs.cstv.com/allaccess
Live Stats: GoFrogs.com (Gametracker)
Radio: KTCU (88.7 FM) Jeff Williams (Play-By-Play)
Twitter Updates: http://twitter.com/TCUWbasketball
Series Record vs. New Mexico: Series is tied at 9-9
Last Meeting vs. New Mexico: March 11, 2011 (W, 61-40)
FORT WORTH, Texas - TCU will continue conference play at home Saturday against New Mexico at Noon CT from Daniel-Meyer Coliseum. The Horned Frogs, now winners of two-straight, will be going for their third-consecutive victory over the Lobos. Overall, TCU has won three out of the last four meetings against New Mexico. Saturday's game will be broadcast live on The Mtn., with Chuck LaMendola (Play-By-Play) and Jeff Lewis (Color) calling the action live from the DMC.
Saturday also marks Back To School Day at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum. The first 500 ISD students will receive free school items, which includes items such as drawstring back packs, folders, rulers and pencil pouches.
The Opponent
New Mexico comes into Saturday's contest with a 6-13 overall record and a 0-5 mark in the Mountain West after falling to Colorado State in its last outing, 61-54. Against the Rams, Lauren Taylor went 4-of-9 from three-point land to total 14 points, while Caroline Durbin also reached double-figures with 13 points. Durbin has led the way for the Lobos this season, averaging 14.8 points per game, while Porche Torrance is having a solid senior campaign with 10.4 points per game and 8.7 boards.
The Series
TCU and New Mexico will be meeting for the 19th time in program history Saturday. The series is currently tied at 9-9, but the Horned Frogs have won two-straight over the Lobos. Overall, TCU, who has won three out of the last four in the series, went 2-1 against UNM last season, falling at home, 65-54, before cashing in on an 84-71 decision in Albuquerque. The Frogs closed the season, dominating New Mexico at the Mountain West Conference Tournament last March, 61-40.
Defense Is The Name Of The Game
Against Air Force, the Horned Frogs forced the Falcons into 29 turnovers, which is a season-high for an opponent against the Frogs. By forcing Air Force into 29 turnovers, it marked the most since TCU engaged Colorado State into 31 last January. Most of those turnovers came off of steals as the Purple and White ramped up their defensive pressure to the tune of stealing the rock 19 times. TCU's 19 steals were the most since the Frogs posted 20 against Cornell in 2006.
Road Warriors
Coming off back-to-back victories at Boise State and Air Force, TCU, who has played three out of its first five conference games away from the friendly confines of Daniel-Meyer Coliseum, will be looking for its third-straight victory on the road next Wednesday at Wyoming. TCU's longest Mountain West road winning-streak is five games, which happened in 2007-08.
The Gross Factor
Delisa Gross had a breakout game against Boise State last week, scoring a season-high 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting. With her 18-point showing, Gross has now scored in double-figures three times this season. During her three years on campus, the Horned Frogs are an impressive 13-5 when Gross scores in double-figures.
Lovings Continues To Make Presence Known
Sophomore Latricia Lovings had probably one of her best defensive games of her career in her last home game against UNLV, setting a new career-high in blocked shots with six. By doing so, she posted the most blocks in a single-game since current professional Sandora Irvin blocked eight against Saint Louis in 2005. Lovings now has 67 blocks in her young career, which is quite impressive considering that she has only played in a total of 42 games. She just overtook Kati Safaritova for No. 3 all-time in career blocked shots in program history. Safaritova tallied 66 between 2000-02.
In all, Lovings' 67 blocks currently rank No. 5 all-time in single-season blocked shots, while the Frogs' 125 blocks currently sit No. 7 all-time in a single-season.
Horned Frogs Solid After A Loss In Mountain West Play
TCU is 20-3 all-time in Mountain West games following a conference loss. The only losses during that stretch came last season against Air Force and in 2007 against Wyoming and New Mexico, respectively. Overall, TCU has only lost two-straight MW regular-season games only three times since 2005-06.
Getting To Intermission On Top A Key
In 20 games, TCU has shown that if it can get to the halftime break with a lead or tied then ultimately the Horned Frogs will come away with a victory, going 8-1 this season when leading or tied at the break. The only loss came at the hands of Hartford when the Purple and White led by three at the break. When TCU hasn't led at intermission, the Frogs are 2-9 overall, with its only victories coming after trailing by eight to Sam Houston State and at Air Force by one.
When A Quartet Scores
For only the second time this season, the Horned Frogs had four players score in double-figures at Boise State. TCU has now accomplished that feat seven times during the last two years. During that stretch, the Frogs are 5-2, with their only losses coming at the hands of NC State earlier this season and against Oral Roberts last spring.
Ventress Continues To Produce
Natalie Ventres, who has scored 20+ points three out of the last four games, has led TCU in scoring nine out of the last 11 games, including a 21-point showing against Air Force. So far this season, the freshman has led the Frogs in scoring 11 times, becoming the first Horned Frog freshman to lead the Purple and White in scoring in 11 games since former Horned Frog and current professional Helena Sverrisdottir carried TCU in eight games during the 2007-08 season.
Holding Their Own
TCU held Air Force without a three-pointer in the first half, marking the third time in six games in which the Frogs have held an opponent without a three in a single-half. Even more impressive is that going into Saturday's contest against New Mexico, four different opponents in the last six home games have left Daniel-Meyer Coliseum without a single three in a half. The Frogs are now 5-1 this season when accomplishing that feat, having done so at Houston earlier this year as well. In the past two seasons, TCU has now held nine different opponents to no triples during a half of play, with its only losses in that stretch coming to West Virginia and Harvard.
The Bench Play Is Key For Horned Frogs
In nine of TCU's 10 victories this season, the Frogs have outscored their opponent off the bench a combined, 267-114. Overall, TCU has outscored its opponent off the bench in every game except NC State (24-27), Georgia (6-29), Oklahoma (11-26), UTPA (26-10), SDSU (13-13) and CSU (7-7).
Getting It Down Low Means Success
In seven of TCU's 10 victories this season, the Frogs have outscored their opponent in the paint, including at Air Force, 36-24. When the Purple and White haven't outscored the opposition down low, TCU is 3-8. The lone game in which TCU has outscored its opponent, but lost is UTPA. The Frogs outscored the Broncs, 30-18.
Down Under
In five of the Frogs' 10 victories either Latricia Lovings or Ashley Colbert has scored in double-figures. Lovings scored 10 points against both UTSA and Fordham, while Colbert dropped 10 on Houston and 11 against TSU and Air Force, respectively. Only one time this season has one scored in double-figures and the Frogs lost (NC State - Colbert: 16 points).
Follow The Frogs
Fans not able to attend the New Mexico game can follow the game live via Gametracker and radio. To access any of the above, go to the women's basketball schedule page and click on the respective links located on the right-hand side of the page.
Last Time Out
TCU used a 27-4 run early on in the second half Wednesday to erase a one-point halftime deficit and crush Air Force at Clune Arena, 66-44.
In all, the Horned Frogs' stingy defense forced a season-high 29 turnovers, including 15 in the second half. In the second frame alone, TCU, who trailed at the half by a score of 25-24, held the Falcons to only 19 second half points on 6-of-23 shooting from the field. In all, Air Force, who only made one three-pointer the entire night, faced heavy pressure the entire second half.
With the win, the Purple and White, now winners of two-straight, moved to 10-10 overall and 3-2 in the Mountain West, while Air Force dropped to 5-15 overall and 0-5 in league play.
With the help of a dominating second half, Natalie Ventress led the way with 21 points on 6-of-11 from the field, marking the third time in four games the freshman has scored 20+ points. Fellow freshman Ashley Colbert was the only other Frog in double-figures with 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the field. Latricia Lovings combined with Colbert for a dynamic duo down low as Lovings had an all-around solid game with eight points, nine boards and two blocks. Lovings tied a career-high with nine boards and also overtook Kati Safaritova for No. 3 all-time in career blocked shots.
Up Next
TCU will travel to Wyoming next Wednesday for an 8:00 p.m. CT contest.
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