TCU 96, Oklahoma 71: Frogs roll Sooners on Senior Night

TCU Women’s Basketball’s six seniors went out on a high note Wednesday, stunning the Sooners with a huge second half on their way to a 96-71 win in their last home game.

The Horned Frogs, now 21-7 on the year and 12-5 in conference play, trailed by two after the first quarter but never again, outscoring Oklahoma by nine in the second period and 18 in the third on their way to a 25 point win.

While it was a night dedicated to the most veteran players on Raegan Pebley’s squad, junior Lauren Heard had a big game, scoring 23 points, pulling down seven rebounds, and dropping five assists. One of four Frogs in double-figures on the night, Heard spurred TCU to a strong start with a 12 point first quarter, but she wasn’t the only player to have a big game. Kianna Ray had a near-triple double in the final home game of her illustrious career, scoring 18 points, pulling down 12 rebounds, and garnering seven assists. Fellow senior Jaycee Bradley was also in double-digits with 13, including three three pointers. She also had three of the Frogs’ nine steals. TCU’s other two senior starters, Adeola Akomalafe and Jayde Woods, combined for 16 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists. Off the bench, seniors Michelle Berry and Elle Hellessey combined for eight points and hit a pair of threes.

Sophomore Ryann Paine, a future star at guard, as 5-6 from the field and 1-1 from behind the arc on her way to a 11 point effort. Another promising young player, sophomore Alexandria Crain, rounded out the scoring with seven off of the bench as well.

With the win, TCU all but locked up the #2 seed in next week’s Big 12 Tournament. The Frogs will finish their season at West Virginia Saturday, while current #3 seed Texas has to play at Baylor Thursday and home against Oklahoma State. The Frogs have a one game advantage over the Longhorns, but the two teams split the season series. Should things hold, the Frogs would earn an opening round bye and face with the no. 7 or no. 10 seed in their first game next Friday.

Whatever happens over the next several days, this TCU team is NCAA Tournament bound, spurred on by a special group of seniors that have left an indelible legacy. They still have time to expand on their impressive careers though, and hope that their time in purple is far from over.