TCU Women’s Basketball Triumphs Over West Virginia
In a thrilling clash on Sunday night, the No. 17 ranked TCU women’s basketball team triumphed over No. 19 West Virginia with a score of 59-50, seizing the lead in the Big 12 Conference standings. This victory places TCU firmly at the top, now boasting an impressive 23-4 record with 11 wins and 3 losses in the conference this season. With this win, TCU is tied for first with No. 12 Baylor, but holds the tiebreaker advantage, thanks to a previous 83-67 victory against the Bears earlier this season. The two teams are set to meet again on March 1 as TCU looks to solidify its position.
Home Winning Streak
The Horned Frogs continued their remarkable home winning streak, now at 40 games at Schollmaier Arena, matching No. 4 Texas for the longest ongoing streak. The last team to overcome TCU at home was West Virginia, who achieved a decisive 77-52 win over the Frogs two years ago.
Key Players in the Victory
Marta Suarez and Clara Silva were pivotal in the victory, each scoring 14 points. Suarez showcased her shooting prowess, hitting 6 of 10 attempts including two from beyond the arc, while Silva contributed with 7 of 12 shooting, adding eight rebounds and two blocks to her tally. Olivia Miles also made significant contributions, netting 12 points, grabbing seven rebounds, and distributing seven assists. Taylor Bigby rounded out the scoring for TCU’s starting lineup with 10 points and four assists.
West Virginia’s Performance
For West Virginia (21-6, 11-4), Gia Cooke was the standout performer, scoring 18 points, supported by Sydney Shaw who added 12 points from three 3-pointers. The Mountaineers had entered the game on a four-game winning streak and had claimed seven wins in their last eight contests, having previously lost to TCU in a narrow 51-50 game in January.
Game Highlights
West Virginia started strong, with Cooke and Shaw hitting consecutive 3-pointers that helped the team establish a 14-11 lead thanks to an 8-0 scoring run in the final moments of the first quarter. By halftime, they managed to maintain a six-point lead over the Horned Frogs, outscoring them 14-11 in that period.
The game, however, took a turn in the third quarter. TCU struggled initially from three-point range but found its rhythm, with Hunter knocking down two early 3-pointers followed by contributions from Suarez and Bigby, which fueled a dominant 20-2 run. This surge allowed TCU to establish a significant 42-30 lead. The Frogs finished the third quarter strong, leading 46-39 as they made their first nine shots of the period.
While West Virginia attempted to mount a comeback, reducing the deficit to six on several occasions in the final quarter, they were unable to close the gap further.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, TCU will travel to face Houston on Wednesday, while West Virginia will host Oklahoma State on Saturday, eager to bounce back from this tough loss.
