Nov. 27, 2007

Complete Release in PDF Format

The Opponent: Fresno State Bulldogs

FORT WORTH--TCU takes to the Daniel-Meyer Coliseum court for the second of three straight home games Wednesday against former conference foe Fresno State. Tip-off between the Lady Frogs and Bulldogs is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. The Frogs will look to rebound from a two-game losing streak following setbacks last week at SMU and at home against No. 12/14 Cal.

As former members of the Western Athletic Conference from 1996 through 2001, TCU laced up against Fresno six times while compiling a 4-2 record against the Bulldogs. The all-time series between the programs stands at 4-4, as Fresno won a pair of meetings in 1984 and 1985. TCU has won each of the last three matchups.

Wednesday'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 (analyst) calling the action. All games this season will be broadcast live on KTCU. Live audio coverage, in addition to the free video streaming and live stats always offered during home games, will also be available on GoFrogs.com.

Video from Head Coach Jeff Mittie's post-game press conference will also be archived via the All-Access section of TCU's web site following the conclusion of the game.

Frog Quick Notes
-Wednesday's game will mark only the second game against a current member of the WAC since TCU left the conference in 2001. The Frogs downed New Mexico State in 2003-04.

-TCU is 22-2 in its last 24 games at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum.

-TCU is 24-18 in November games under Jeff Mittie.

-The Lady Frogs have forced at least 16 turnovers in each game this season, including a pair of contests where they pressured the opponent into 30 miscues.

-The Frogs rank second in the Mountain West Conference in offensive rebounds (16.0 pg), steals (9.6) and turnovers forced (22.6 pg).

-The senior class of Lorie Butler-Rayford, Moneka Knight, Jenna Lohse, Helen Roden and Adrianne Ross have combined for 2,830 points, 1,389 rebounds, 821 assists and 567 steals during their TCU careers.

Scouting Fresno State (0-3)
Fresno State, which enters Wednesday with an 0-3 start to its season, faced some rebuilding coming off an 18-13 finish a year ago. Head Coach Adrian Wiggins entered the season with nine newcomers on his roster, including five freshmen. Among the squad's veterans is All-WAC performer Tierre Wilson, who averaged 14.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per game last season.

Records can be deceiving, and that certainly is the case with Fresno State. The Bulldogs have faced three teams either ranked or receiving votes in both major polls, including a close battle against No. 12/14 Cal that resulted in an 83-79 loss. The squad also dropped decisions to BYU (78-59) and Oklahoma State (87-73).

Wilson currently averages 17.3 points per game to pace Fresno while connecting at a 47.6 percent clip from the field, while Erica Henry has pulled down a team-best 6.3 boards per game.

Slow Starts no Problem for TCU
Despite a 2-3 start to TCU's season, recent history shows that the squad is more than capable of responding with a successful campaign. Each of the last two Lady Frogs were able to rebound from losing starts to reach the NCAA Tournament.

-2006-07--TCU opened the year 0-3 following early losses to Maryland, George Washington and Arizona before winning 13 of its next 14 games and briefly entering the national polls at No. 23.

-2005-06--The Lady Frogs went 3-5 in their first eight contests with losses to Georgia, North Carolina, Oklahoma, USC and Duke before reeling off nine consecutive wins. TCU would go on to reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

If there is a trend within the last three seasons, it is the Frogs' tendency to square off against high-qualify opposition. TCU already has faced a pair of top-12 squads this November in LSU and Cal and will match up against No. 13 Texas A&M Sunday.

Butler-Rayford Cleaning the Glass
Lorie Butler-Rayford has been one of TCU's most dependable players on the boards during her career, and this season is no different. The 5-11 senior ranks third in the Mountain West Conference with 9.0 rebounds per game and second in offensive boards with a 3.6 per game average.

Butler-Rayford has registered at least eight rebounds in four of five games this season with a high of 14 against SMU. She needs only 42 boards to pass Stacy Francis into fourth on TCU's career rebounds chart. During her best season as a Frog in 2006-07, Butler-Rayford averaged 7.1 rpg.