
Arizona State
(-15.5)

Texas Christian
(+15.5)
Highlights
Summary
FORT WORTH, Texas (Interstat) ā Texas Christian rolled past Arizona State 77-46 in a womenās NCAA Division I basketball game Sunday at Dickies Arena. The Lady Frogs improved to 16-1 overall, while the Sun Devils fell to 16-2. TCU took control with a 21-point second quarter, building a 35-20 halftime lead and never relenting. Arizona State was held to just seven points in that period. The Lady Frogsā defense stifled the Sun Devils throughout, maintaining a double-digit advantage after the break before 4,021 fans. The victory was TCUās first in Big 12 play, while Arizona State suffered its second conference loss. The gameās total points fell below the projected over/under line.
Extended Summary
FORT WORTH, Texas (Interstat) ā In a commanding display of defensive pressure and offensive execution, the Texas Christian Lady Frogs solidified their status as a national force with a decisive 77-46 victory over the Arizona State Sun Devils in a Big 12 womenās basketball game Sunday at Dickies Arena. A crowd of 4,021 watched as TCU, now 16-1 overall, used a dominant second quarter to pull away from a Sun Devils team that entered the contest with a formidable 16-1 record of its own. The loss dropped Arizona State to 16-2. The gameās pivotal sequence began late in the first quarter and stretched through the second. After a competitive opening period that ended with TCU holding a narrow 14-13 lead, the Lady Frogs unleashed a 21-7 second-quarter run that effectively decided the contest. The surge was fueled by a stifling defensive effort that forced Arizona State into a series of rushed shots and costly turnovers, limiting the Sun Devils to just two made field goals in the quarter. TCU guard Olivia Miles, a junior from Phillipsburg, New Jersey, was the catalyst. She orchestrated the offense with precision and scored from all levels, finishing with a game-high 22 points and six assists in 35 minutes. Her backcourt mate, Maddie Scherr of Florence, Kentucky, provided crucial perimeter scoring, hitting three 3-pointers during the decisive run and finishing with nine points and two blocks. Arizona State, which had relied on a stout defense throughout its strong start to the season, found itself overwhelmed by TCUās size and speed. The Sun Devilsā leading scorer, Gabby Elliott of Detroit, managed to score 19 points but needed 35 minutes to do so against constant defensive attention. The Sun Devilsā offense never found a consistent rhythm, shooting a season-low percentage from the field. The Lady Frogsā frontcourt advantage was pronounced, led by 6-foot-7 center Clara Silva of Faro, Portugal. Silva controlled the paint with 10 points, three assists and a block, while fellow 6-foot-7 post player Kennedy Basham of Phoenix added six points and two blocks off the bench. Their presence altered countless Arizona State attempts and secured key rebounds that fueled TCUās transition game. TCUās lead ballooned to 35-20 by halftime and only grew in the second half, reaching as many as 31 points in the final period. The Lady Frogsā depth was on full display, with Donovyn Hunter contributing 10 points and Taylor Bigby adding eight, including two fourth-quarter 3-pointers that extinguished any fleeting hope of an Arizona State rally. The most important part of the game was unquestionably TCUās second-quarter blitz. It transformed a tense, one-point game into a comfortable double-digit lead by exploiting Arizona Stateās offensive struggles. During that stretch, TCUās defense generated multiple turnovers that led to easy baskets, while their own half-court offense executed efficiently against a Sun Devils defense that entered the game allowing just 58 points per contest. That quarter demonstrated TCUās superior firepower and set the tone for a one-sided second half. The victory extends TCUās strong start in its new conference and avenges its only loss of the season, an overtime defeat at Utah on Jan. 3. Arizona State, which suffered its first loss since a Jan. 3 setback at BYU, will look to regroup as it continues a challenging inaugural Big 12 schedule. TCU next travels to face West Virginia on Wednesday. Arizona State returns home to host Kansas next Saturday.
Preview
Preview: Arizona State Sun Devils at TCU Lady Frogs FORT WORTH, Texas (Interstat) ā A top-10 showdown with major Big 12 implications is set for Sunday when the Arizona State Sun Devils visit the TCU Lady Frogs at Dickies Arena. Both teams enter with nearly identical sterling records. Arizona State (16-1, 1-1 Big 12) has won 15 of its last 16, while TCU (15-1, 2-1) has won 14 of its last 15. The lone blemish for each came in their conference openers on the road. The Sun Devils are led by guard Heloisa Carrera, who is averaging 11.2 points per game. She is coming off a 20-point performance in a 68-45 rout of UCF on Wednesday. Forward McKinna Brackens (15 points) and guard Gabby Elliott (12 points, 4 assists) also provided key contributions in that win. TCU counters with dynamic guard Olivia Miles, who is averaging 22.1 points and 8.1 assists per game. Miles posted 20 points and 8 assists in the Lady Frogsā 69-61 victory over Oklahoma State on Wednesday. She scored a season-high 31 points in their overtime loss at Utah on Jan. 3. Arizona Stateās strength has been a relentless defense, holding opponents to an average of 55.2 points per game. They have not allowed more than 71 points in a game this season. TCU boasts one of the nationās most potent offenses, averaging 80.6 points per game and eclipsing 100 points once. The Sun Devils have navigated a tough early schedule with road wins at Utah, Gonzaga and Oregon State. The Lady Frogs have dominated at home, winning by an average margin of 38.8 points in Fort Worth. This marks the first meeting between the programs as Big 12 conference foes. The outcome will provide early clarity in the conference race and could have significant seeding implications for the NCAA tournament. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. CST Sunday at Dickies Arena. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2.