Sports

Freshman's nine three-pointers lead TCU past SMU, 76-70

By Travis L. Brown - Special to the Star-Telegram

November 28, 2012 11:31 PM

TCU freshman guard Zahna Medley hit a record nine 3-point shots in Wednesday's 76-70 win over SMU.

In the end, every one of Medley's long-distance hits was needed.

The sharp-shooting freshman sunk the game-tying three with 2:42 remaining, and then hit her ninth two minutes later, which would be the game-winning score.

Medley's nine treys tied both Amy (Sutton) Porter's school record for most 3-pointers in a game and the mark for most three-pointers made at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum. It also broke the record for most made by a freshman, previously at eight by Jill Sutton.

The performance also tied for fourth all-time in the Big 12. Medley, who had a career-high 27 points, only attempted 12 three-pointers.

"She can shoot it and we've seen in scrimmages where she's had six or seven," TCU head coach Jeff Mittie said. "But when I grabbed the stat sheet I was shocked she had nine tonight, because it's not like she took 20 to get them."

On the other side, SMU (5-2) shot a scorching 62.5 percent from three-point range in the game, thanks to guard Korina Baker going 4 for 6. Baker lined up a chance to tie the game seconds after Medley's ninth, but rimmed out, one of two misses from behind the arc.

Offensively, TCU (2-2) put together its most polished performance of the season, thanks to a few new offensive plays installed this week.

Mittie said he hadn't planned on utilizing the new sets yet, but after some success calling the plays out of timeouts, he felt his team quickly gained confidence.

"It was more movement," junior center Latricia Lovings said of the new sets. "In the other offense, before we put this one in, Ashley [Colbert] and I were just sitting on the post and would try to move and post up when we could, but this time we are picking-and-rolling and slipping, so I think we're moving a lot more."

Lovings responded with a career night, breaking her personal best in rebounds with 13 and finishing one short of her career high in blocks with five.

"I came in with a chip on my shoulder," Lovings said. "Beating them is one of the things we wanted to do because we lost to them last year and it was heartbreaking. Coming in we wanted to win, so we came out and played like we wanted to win today."

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