TCU women survive tough Lamar defensive effort

Free throws down the stretch were the saving grace for the TCU women’s basketball team in a 72-68 nail-biting victory over Lamar on Thursday at the University Recreation Center.

Lamar’s press and aggressive defense gave TCU fits, resulting in 28 Horned Frogs turnovers in the game, including 17 in the first half.

The high-risk, high-reward press Lamar threw at TCU (5-3) for the vast majority of the game not only frustrated guards Zahna Medley and Donielle Breaux, who combined for 17 turnovers, but also junior guard Veja Hamilton, who demonstrated the best ball control of any Frogs player.

“They had a lot of quick guards and I feel like they just kind of threw us off our game a little bit,” Hamilton said.

Making her fourth start of the season, Hamilton flirted with a triple-double, with seven points, seven rebounds, and most importantly, a career-high eight assists.

“Veja is a nice passer,” TCU coach Raegan Pebley said. “She’s got good instincts for the game. She can bring a physical presence for us as well.”

TCU began the game on a 7-0 run, but began its streak of turnovers early, coughing up the ball eight times in the first 8 minutes.

Lamar (2-6) was able to tie the game twice in the last two minutes of the first half and trailed 35-34 at the break.

The Frogs came out of halftime with a calmer approach on offense in the opening minutes of the second half, mounting a 16-4 run in which they committed only two turnovers.

“I think it was just slowing down in the press,” Hamilton said of the 7-minute run, “They pressed the whole game, but we controlled our passes, and we didn’t get nervous and make bad passes.”

After the 7-minute mark of the second half, the turnover bug bit the Frogs again, resulting in nine turnovers in the final 13 minutes as the Cardinals pulled within two twice in the final 3:14 of the game.

TCU was able to hold on thanks to the free-throw shooting of Medley, guard Alexia Standish and forward Chelsea Prince, who connected on eight consecutive free throws down the stretch.

TCU shot 82 percent from the line.

“That was very nice to see us be able to convert at the free-throw line. It’s a goal of ours that we’re always shooting 80 percent and that was a big key to this win.”

Medley led the Frogs with 18 points, tying Lamar’s high-scorer, Dominique Edwards.

TCU center Klara Bradshaw saw her season-high in minutes triple with 13. She finished with nine points and four rebounds.

While it wasn’t pretty, it was the kind of game Pebley said was valuable before Big 12 Conference play.

“We needed a game like this,” she said. “We needed to get pressed. We needed to really be in a close game situation and handle what that feels like and how to execute through it. A win is a win. That’s a good team and I’m proud of our team.”

This story was originally published December 11, 2014 at 11:02 PM with the headline "TCU women survive tough Lamar defensive effort."