2nd Round Article - Frogs Tumble 80-59
Frogs
Win!
Women capture first
round victory over Penn State
in NCAA tournament debut
By Kelly Morris
Sports Editor
RUSTON, La.__Junior forward Kati Safaritova’s 23 points led the TCU women’s basketball team, in its first NCAA Tournament , to a 77-75 upset of sixth-seeded Penn State Saturday.
“It was a great college basketball game,” head coach Jeff Mittie said. “Penn State was fantastic, and we ran out and shot the ball tremendously to start the game.”
The Frogs will play third-seeded Louisiana Tech Monday. The game time was not available at press time.
The Frogs (25-7), who took their first lead at 7-6, led the remainder of the first half, and with 5:32 remaining, opened up their largest lead of the game at 39-20. That margin soon dwindled as Penn State, with 4:51 remaining, went on a 15-0 run.
The Frogs, shooting 58.6 percent (17-of-29) from the field, led at halftime, 42-37. Safaritova and junior forward Tricia Payne each scored 11 points in the half. Freshman guard Kelly Mazzante, Penn State’s leading scorer who averaged19.7 points a game in the regular season, was held to four points in the half.
Despite the Frogs’ five-point lead at the half, Mittie said there was room for improvement.
“We were disappointed with two things in the first half,” Mittie said. “ We gave them too many open looks and too many second chances.”
In the first half, Penn State had 10 offensive rebounds, compared to just one for the Frogs.
In the second half, the Lions tied the game for the first time at 48. Frogs senior guard Amy Porter and freshman forward Tiffany Evans then scored TCU’s next six points to regain the lead at 57-54.
With the game tied at 72, Payne’s two free throws with 1:20 remaining gave TCU a 74-72 lead. Lady Lions forward Lisa Shepherd’s three-pointer then pushed Penn State ahead with a one-point lead with 1:12 remaining. Safaritova’s two-pointer with 46 seconds remaining put TCU ahead, 76-75, and Evans’ free throw with one second remaining iced the game.
Senior guard Jill Sutton said the team felt confident even though it was the Frogs’ first NCAA appearance.
“We really believed we could win this game,” Sutton said. “We didn’t feel like we were underdogs.”
WIth the victory, the Frogs have won four straight, while the Lady Lions (19-10) exit the tournament having lost three in a row.
Kelly Morris
K.L.Morris@student.tcu.edu