TCU women shoot way to 76-67 victory over SMU
TCU leaned on its 3-point shooting in a 76-67 win over rival SMU at Schollmaier Arena on Sunday.
Point guard AJ Alix hit five 3-pointers and Jada Butts and Amber Ramirez added three apiece as the Horned Frogs put just enough distance between themselves and the visiting Mustangs in the third quarter and early in the fourth.
The Frogs went 15 of 25 from deep and withstood a second-quarter SMU run that kept the visiting Mustangs within striking distance until the Horned Frogs locked down defensively in the third quarter.
Some of those 3s were because the ball hit the paint first and you’ve got people open without close-outs.
TCU coach Raegan Pebley
“We have a saying. It’s not ‘a’ shot,” TCU coach Raegan Pebley said. “We want a great shot. It’s not about how many we shoot, it’s about where in our offense the shots come from. Some of those 3s were because the ball hit the paint first and you’ve got people open without close-outs.”
TCU (3-0) extended its defense with full-court pressure early and extended its lead to double digits late in the first quarter. That came after SMU guard McKenzie Adams’ open jumper at the back of the Frogs’ press tied the game 16-16 with 4:15 left in the first. Adams led all scorers with 21 points for SMU.
Alix, who ended up with 20, hit her third 3-pointer after the TCU defense forced turnovers on three straight SMU possessions and put the Frogs up 27-16 with 1:40 left in the first.
Her fourth long ball from the corner gave her 15 points in the first half and put TCU up 39-25 early in the second, but SMU went on an 18-5 run across the next six minutes to get back into the game before halftime.
The Horned Frogs went just 2 of 7 from the field late in second quarter, but Jada Butts’ tough bucket inside in the final minute of the half left TCU hanging onto a 46-43 lead at the break.
Jordan’s aggressive; she can score anytime she wants.
TCU guard AJ Alix
on teammate Jordan Moore, who had 13 points and 11 reboundsCenter Jordan Moore had her second double-double in the team’s first three games, finishing with 13 points and 11 rebounds. TCU locked down on defense in the second half to hold the Mustangs (2-1) to 9 of 28 from the floor in the second half.
“Jordan’s aggressive; she can score anytime she wants,” Alix said. “I’m always looking to get her the ball. Even when she doesn’t make the shot, I’m going to her again.”
Butts finished with 14 points, seven assists and six boards.
Matthew Martinez; 817-390-7760; @MCTinez817
SMU | 22 | 21 | 10 | 14 | — | 67 |
TCU | 30 | 16 | 18 | 12 | — | 76 |
SMU (2-1) — Froling 8-12 4-5 20, Thomas 4-7 0-0 8, Perry 3-9 0-0 7, Adams 8-13 3-5 21, Bolton 0-5 0-0 0, Reese 1-5 0-0 3, Bradshaw 1-3 0-2 2, Mickens 1-3 4-4 6. Totals 26-57 11-16 67.
TCU (3-0) — Moore 6-9 1-2 13, Thompson 1-6 0-0 3, Butts 5-14 1-2 14, Alix 7-16 1-1 20, Ray 3-8 0-0 8, Okonkwo 3-6 0-0 7, Christian 0-0 0-0 0, Ramirez 3-11 3-6 9, Akomolafe 1-1 0-0 2, Willie 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 29-71 15-25 76.
3-point goals — SMU 4-13 (Adams 2-4, Perry 1-2, Reese 1-4, Bolton 0-3). TCU 15-25 (Alix 5-8, Butts 3-5, Ramirez 3-6, Ray 2-2, Okonkwo 1-2, Thompson 1-2). Fouled out — None. Rebounds — SMU 39 (Froling 12), TCU 36 (Moore 11). Assists — SMU 17 (Bolton 6), TCU 22 (Butts 7). Total fouls — SMU 14, TCU 20. A—1,841.
This story was originally published November 20, 2016 at 6:12 PM with the headline "TCU women shoot way to 76-67 victory over SMU."