FORT WORTH, Texas — The TCU women’s basketball team started slow and couldn’t recover in an 83-61 loss to No. 12 West Virginia to open Big 12 play at Schollmaier Arena on Thursday night.TCU (8-4, 0-1) saw its three-game winning streak come to an end while West Virginia (13-0, 1-0) remained the Big 12’s only undefeated team.The Frogs scored a season-low seven points in the first quarter as WVU built a double-digit lead early. That lead grew to 36 points late in the third quarter before TCU chipped into it in the fourth quarter.Amy Okonkwo led the Frogs with 17 points and eight rebounds. Kianna Ray added 14 points and 11 rebounds. Tynice Martin had 21 points and six steals to lead WVU while Chania Ray added 17 points, nine assists and six steals.The Rundown TCU shot just 3-of-14 in the opening quarter and scored a season-low seven points. In addition to the poor shooting, TCU also had turnover problems early as it committed seven miscues in the opening frame.WVU closed the first quarter on an 8-0 run, then extended the lead even more in the second quarter and entered halftime with a 41-19 lead.Offensively, TCU performed much better after the break with 20 points in the third quarter on 7-of-14 shooting. However, the Mountaineers scored 32 points on 11-of-18 shooting and took their biggest lead at 36 points, 73-37, late in the third.The Frogs deployed a fullcourt press in the fourth quarter and forced WVU into four turnovers in the first four minutes, leading to a 12-2 run to open the quarter. TCU got within 22 points as it held WVU to 0-of-8 shooting in the final quarter.The Frogs entered leading the NCAA in 3-point percentage and hit 8-of-17 from deep for 47 percent. However, they made just 12-of-36 from inside the arc and shot 38 percent overall.The Frogs poor shooting overall was compounded by 20 turnovers that led to WVU holding a 20-3 advantage in fast break points.Stat of the Game 0 — TCU held West Virginia to 0-of-8 shooting in the fourth quarter. The Frogs outscored the Mountaineers, 22-10, with all 10 of WVU’s points coming from the free throw line.Quote of the Game Raegan Pebley on fourth-quarter effort — “I think there were some good things that we can take away from this game and carry over into future games, including the one that we’ll have to play at their place. That fourth quarter, and even toward the third quarter, I think we were able to do some good things in the halfcourt.”Notes – TCU moved to 1-4 in Big 12 openers with the lone win coming at Texas Tech last season. – TCU moved to 16-6 all-time at Schollmaier Arena and 37-10 at home under Raegan Pebley. – TCU’s seven first-quarter points were its fewest in any quarter this season. – TCU has made at least six 3-pointers in every game this season. – Amy Okonkwo scored in double figures for the fifth straight game. She has scored in double figures in eight of 12 games this season. – AJ Alix made at least three 3-pointers for the eighth time in 12 games this season. She scored in double figures for the seventh time. – Kianna Ray scored in double figures for third time this season. She also added a career-high 11 rebounds for her first career double-double.Up Next For the first time program history, TCU opens conference play with back-to-back games against ranked teams as the Frogs travel to face No. 24 Oklahoma on Sunday at 2 p.m.
