Number ten ranked TCU Women’s Basketball picked up a huge win on the road over then number ten ranked North Carolina State by a score of 69-59. This was the first road win over a ranked non-conference
opponent since 2011 and a big addition to the NCAA Tournament resume early in the season. The Frogs looked very comfortable playing in a hostile environment against a good NC State team and passed their first test of the season with flying colors.
Marta Suarez led the Frogs in scoring with 26 points on 10-18 shooting from the field in her best game of the season. Suarez scored in multiple ways as she has all season, knocking down four of eight attempts from three and finishing multiple times in the paint. Her ability to both screen and roll and screen and pop gives the TCU offense multiple options to attack opposing pick-and-roll defenses. Suarez took full advantage of the extra defensive attention paid to Olivia Miles and was up to the task of taking on the primary scoring burden in this game. Miles was one of two Frogs with a double-double as she scored 15 points, collected 14 rebounds, and tallied five assists. NC State’s defense was very focused on stopping the pick-and-roll duo of Miles and Clara Silva and Miles did a good job of finding open teammates when extra defenders were sent her way. Silva was the second Frog with a double-double as she filled up the stat sheet with 11 points, 12 rebounds, one assist, and two blocks. TCU gave Silva more post up opportunities in this game and she looked comfortable working with her back to the basket. Look for TCU to work in more post up sets for Silva in the future. Donovyn Hunter played well for the Frogs on both sides of the floor, with 11 points, five rebounds, three assists, and excellent defensive effort against NC State’s guards. With the step up in competition, there was some offensive regression to be expected, but the Frogs still shot the ball well, shooting 43% from the field, 33% from three, and 83% from the free throw line. One area to improve in on the offensive side would be turnovers. The Frogs turned the ball over 13 times as a team compared to just 11 total assists. NC State did a good job of cutting off passing lanes but the Frogs need to make crisper passes in the future.
TCU’s defense was outstanding against the Wolfpack as TCU held NC State to 33% shooting from the field and 32% shooting from three. The Frogs did a solid job of keeping the Wolfpack out of the paint as NC State totaled just 26 points in the paint compared to 34 from the Frogs. TCU’s perimeter defenders especially did a great job of staying in front of ball handlers and cutting off driving lanes.
TCU played an excellent defensive first quarter, holding NC State to just 13 points in the first ten minutes and the Frogs took a two point lead into the second quarter despite some early missed shots. Both offenses picked up the pace in the second quarter as NC State took a 24-20 lead with five minutes left in the quarter, thanks in part to multiple offensive rebounds and a TCU turnover. The Frogs quickly responded, however, with a 10-0 run across the last three minutes of the first half to take a 36-31 lead into the break. TCU’s defense again flexed its muscle in the third quarter, holding NC State to just nine points as the Frogs extended the lead to 16 points on a Marta Suarez buzzer beating layup. NC State battled back in the fourth and cut the lead to seven points with two minutes left in the game, but a Donovyn Hunter layup put the game away for good.
The Frogs will next take on Tarleton State at home in Fort Worth, this Thursday, November 20th at 6:30 pm.
