Women’s Basketball: Bench depth sparks No. 11 TCU to dominant win over BYU

The Horned Frog reserves score 29 points to storm past the Cougars 79-47

11th-ranked TCU Women’s Basketball has one of the nation’s best “Big 3” with Sedona Prince, Madison Conner, and Hailey Van Lith delivering an elite season together to lead the Frogs. However the marker of a truly great team is the performance of its depth behind its superstars. On a night where TCU’s starters struggled to get out of first gear in the first half, it was the bench play that lifted the Frogs. The Horned Frogs bench delivered 29 points, 20 rebounds, and 12 assists, providing the spark needed to get the Frogs rolling. A game that was tightly contested early, with BYU scoring 19 first quarter points, TCU turned on the jets in the second half and clamped down defensively to complete the runaway 79-47 victory. The Frogs improved to 23-3 on the season and 11-2 in Big 12 play.

Both teams opened the game on fire, each shooting over 50% from the field and making three three-pointers. The Frogs closing the quarter leading by just four points despite one of its best shooting quarters of the year, logging nine assists on ten made buckets in the frame.

As the TCU starters found some struggles in the second quarter, combining for just three points on 1-6 shooting from the floor. Coach Mark Campbell went with a platoon swap, a rare time with none of Conner, Van Lith, or Prince on the court. The bench unit absolutely flourished with the opportunity, snuffing out the Cougars’ offense and ultimately doubling the Horned Frogs’ lead into halftime.

To fully acknowledge the bench effort on Tuesday: Deasia Merrill led the reserves with 9 points on a perfect 4-4 shooting with 7 rebounds; Una Jovanovic dazzled with 7 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists, each season-bests; Aaliyah Roberson added 5 points and 2 boards; Donovyn Hunter put up four points, six assists, and 5 rebounds; and Natalie Mazurek splashed a three-pointer as part of her 4 point night.

In the second half the starters returned to form and took the game over, especially on the defensive end. Prince, Conner, Van Lith, and Emma-Nnopu each finished the game scoring in double digits as the Frogs converted 16 BYU turnovers into 25 points. Sedona Prince picked up four of her five blocks after halftime, giving her 80 swats on the season. BYU made only six field goals in the entire second half, including a 4th quarter where the Cougars managed only 4 points on 13.3% shooting from the field. In back-to-back games, TCU has held its opponent under 50 points and under 33% shooting, to earn consecutive blowout home wins.

The win marks 17 victories in Schollmaier Arena this season, equaling a program record while becoming the largest Big 12 margin of victory in program history. The Horned Frogs next take the Grand Canyon State road trip, playing at Arizona Wildcats (15-10; 6-6 Big 12) on Sunday and at the Arizona State Sun Devils (8-16; 2-10 Big 12) next Wedndesday.