TCU women begin new era by hosting Southern Utah at Schollmaier Arena

The TCU women play their first game in the renovated Schollmaier Arena against Southern Utah on Sunday as the second half of a doubleheader with the TCU men’s team.

The $72 million renovation included lowering a newly painted floor and adding seating to create better sight lines for the fans, as well as a new video board hanging over the floor that is a third bigger than the board in Daniel-Meyer Coliseum.

“Schollmaier Arena, I think, is one of the best, if not the best, in the country,” coach Raegan Pebley said.

The TCU women’s squad spent the last season and seven games this season at the University Recreation Center, where they posted a 21-4 record, with two of the four losses coming against top-five programs.

“I’ve been able to have the opportunity to play in three different gyms and all of them from TCU, so I think each one has its own memories and experiences,” senior guard Zahna Medley said.

Pebley has faced Southern Utah seven times in her career, holding a 4-2 record. On Nov. 21, 2003, Pebley began her head-coaching career when her team, Utah State, faced the Thunderbirds, who won the game 79-60.

Pebley begins a new era of TCU basketball in the program’s new home on Sunday.

“We’ll bring a lot of honor to TCU with how we play on that floor,” Pebley said.

This story was originally published December 19, 2015 at 5:10 PM with the headline "TCU women begin new era by hosting Southern Utah at Schollmaier Arena."