TCU beats Sam Houston State; Texas A&M transfer leaves team

The TCU women’s basketball team defeated Sam Houston State 79-55 Sunday, but it was without junior guard Alexia Standish, who left the team late last week to pursue her future career as a graphic designer.

Standish was accepted into TCU’s graphic design program Friday and talked with coach Raegan Pebley on Friday afternoon about her decision to leave the team, Pebley said.

“I was provided a great opportunity through the graphic design program at TCU,” Standish said in a statement. “It’s an opportunity that I will need to put all my effort into to reap the benefits and job opportunities it will provide for me out of college.”

Standish saw action in five of TCU’s eight games because of various injuries, getting the starting nod in four.

The Texas A&M transfer from Colleyville Heritage was fifth on the Horned Frogs’ score sheet, averaging 6.4 points per game.

“She just didn’t feel with the time and the effort that she wanted to put into graphic design that she could balance that with basketball,” Pebley said. “It wasn’t anything that was sore or angry.”

Junior guard Zahna Medley, who led TCU with 23 points Sunday, said that although Standish won’t be suiting up for the Horned Frogs anymore, she’s still a part of the team.

“We’re still going to see her all the time,” Medley said. “We love her. She gives us energy. She still texts us and we’re still connected with her.”

Medley returned to action for the Horned Frogs (7-3) Sunday after missing TCU’s last game due to injury and hit seven 3-pointers, tying her second-most 3’s in a game.

Medley came off the bench for the first time in her life. TCU training staff had quickly gotten her back to 100 percent for Saturday’s practice, and Pebley said she wanted Medley to have some time to get acclimated to the speed of the game.

With TCU taking a 15-point lead just before halftime, Pebley was able to get her role players extended playing time before the conference slate begins Jan. 4.

Junior Caitlin Diaz recorded a season-high 21 minutes and a season-high in rebounds with eight.

Starting guard Natalie Ventress finished one assist shy of her first career double-double with 10 points and nine assists.

“We’ll always take games where you feel fairly comfortable throughout the entire game, but Sam Houston is a team that, they just never quit,” Pebley said. “They sustain effort. They turn people over a lot. I was really proud of how our team really handled the toughness.”

This story was originally published December 21, 2014 at 5:26 PM with the headline "TCU beats Sam Houston State; Texas A&M transfer leaves team."