No. 17 Oklahoma women survive TCU scare with fourth-quarter surge
It was smooth sailing for the TCU women through almost three quarters against No. 17 Oklahoma on Wednesday.
But just like that, it was all gone.
Oklahoma rallied from a 14-point deficit in the third period to upend the Horned Frogs 78-65, handing TCU its first loss in Big 12 play.
TCU is a really good team. There are going to be so many teams in our league that come in here and do not survive.
Oklahoma coach Sherri Coale
TCU (10-4, 2-1 Big 12) led for the first 34 minutes of the game, but in the course of an 18-1 Sooners run in the fourth quarter, Oklahoma took its first lead, which it held for the final 3:06.
Oklahoma (11-3, 2-1) outrebounded TCU 16-6 in the fourth quarter, including six on offense. TCU failed to pull down an offensive rebound in the fourth quarter.
Oklahoma scored 27 points off second-chance opportunities. TCU also committed 22 turnovers, resulting in 25 OU points.
“They made us pay for them that quick,” TCU coach Raegan Pebley said. “That fast. They’re a good team and there’s not a single team in the Big 12 that you could feel comfortable with the lead. Not until that final buzzer.”
The Horned Frogs were held scoreless from the field for the final seven minutes of the game, missing their final seven attempts.
At halftime, TCU led 38-32, aided by a 6-for-11 performance from behind the 3-point arc. Both Zahna Medley and AJ Alix shot 2-for-4 from 3-point range in the first half. Medley finished with a game-high 19 points. However, TCU hit only 2-of-5 in the second half.
They made us pay for them that quick. That fast. They’re a good team and there’s not a single team in the Big 12 that you could feel comfortable with the lead. Not until that final buzzer.
TCU coach Raegan Pebley on Oklahoma
Senior Kaylon Williams led Oklahoma with 18 points and 10 rebounds for her sixth double-double of the season and 15th of her career.
Alix scored 14 points and was 3-of-5 from 3-point range but turned the ball over six times. She finished with four assists.
“I’m confident that we’re going to continue to see AJ growing,” Pebley said. “This will not be part of her identity.”
TCU center Jordan Moore played most of her 19 minutes in the first half and finished with a career-high five blocks., and Junior Jada Butts finished a rebound shy of her first career double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds.
“TCU is a really good team,” Oklahoma coach Sherri Coale said. “There are going to be so many teams in our league that come in here and do not survive.”
Travis L. Brown: tbrown7137@gmail.com, @Travis_L_Brown.
This story was originally published January 6, 2016 at 10:55 PM with the headline "No. 17 Oklahoma women survive TCU scare with fourth-quarter surge."