TCU Women's Basketball Preview: at BYU
TCU women's basketball will finish a two-game road trip at BYU on Wednesday.
The Horned Frogs (16-9 overall, 3-11 Big 12) defeated the Cougars 81-67 earlier this season before injuries depleted the roster. A new-look team will take the floor at the Marriott Center, but one player has already returned from injury.
Guard Madison Conner (MCL injury) helped TCU get past Cincinnati 79-72 over the weekend to snap a five-game losing streak. The team's second-leading scorer, behind center Sedona Prince, provided a spark and seemed to pick up right where she left off. Conner dropped 22 first-half points and 31 total points while grabbing five rebounds in her first game action since January 13 at Houston.
Joining Conner as double-digit scorers were guards Sydney Harris and Una Jovanovic. Harris snagged six rebounds and scored 27 points on 9-of-20 shooting, including 5-of-12 from three-point range. At one point in the third quarter, Harris sank threes on three consecutive trips down the court. Jovanovic added 10 points and five rebounds.
With Conner back on the court, the Horned Frogs gained another three-point shooting threat (7-of-15 versus Cincinnati), who can spread defenses out and open up scoring opportunities for teammates. If Prince returns to the lineup soon from a finger injury, that will give TCU a size advantage down low. An official return date has not been announced, but late February was the original timeline.
Una Jovanovic drives against BYU in a game earlier this season.
Brian McLean/KillerFrogs
BYU (15-12, 5-9) is coming off a 70-62 loss to Kansas. Prior to that game, the Cougars had strung together wins over then-No. 18 Baylor, Cincinnati, and UCF.
Forward Lauren Gustin paces BYU with 17.1 points and 15.4 rebounds per game. Her rebounding average and 25 double-doubles lead the nation. Gustin put up a career-high 33 points and snagged 18 boards versus the Jayhawks. Forward Emma Calvert dumped in 10 points and had six rebounds.
The Cougars matched a season-low 3-of-18 shooting from three-point range in the Kansas loss. Normally, BYU nails 37% of its attempts from deep, which leads the Big 12 and ranks 15th nationally. Guard Kailey Woolston averages 2.6 makes per game on 45.9% shooting.
Like the Horned Frogs, the Cougars share the ball well, averaging nearly 16 assists per game. Guards Kaylee Smiler and Amari Whiting each dish out over 3.5 dimes per game.
With four regular season games left, TCU is in a position to potentially reach postseason play. The final stretch has some winnable games, as just one team has a winning conference record (West Virginia). A hot start to the season, the return of Conner (and potentially Prince), coupled with a few more victories and a run in the conference tournament could keep the Horned Frogs playing well into March.
How to Watch and Listen: TCU v. BYU
- Tipoff – 8 p.m. CT, Wednesday, February 21
- Television – ESPN+
- Radio – 88.7 KTCU FM – Chris Blake, play-by-play
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