First Quarter
The first quarter saw several runs from both teams, with a combined eight 3-point makes and identical 6-of-14 (42.9 percent) shooting performances from the field.
After TCU went up 5-2, Bubakar nailed a triple from the top of the key to kickstart a 7-0 run for the Cougars. Amari Whiting tallied the next four on driving layups to make it 9-5. The Horned Frogs immediately countered with a trio of 3-pointers, including two from guard Agnes Emma-Nnopu, to reclaim the lead at 11-9.
The Cougars then went on a 6-0 run in just two possessions off consecutive 3-pointers from Whiting and Davenport. The quarter closed knotted at 17-17.
Second Quarter
The second period began with a dime from Gustin to a driving Bubakar, who went up strong for a shot off the glass and the foul. The junior converted the ensuing free throw to complete the three-point play.
With the score at 20-19 for BYU, Smiler soared high for a come-from-behind block to ignite a fast break that saw Davenport find an open Gustin in the paint for a score off the glass. After the Horned Frogs went up 23-22, Smiler knocked down a triple early in the shot clock. Woolston then notched her first steal of the night to set up a fast break foul that put Calvert at the charity stripe for two makes.
With BYU up 27-23, TCU closed out the final three minutes of the half on a 6-0 run to take a 29-27 halftime lead. The sequence came on two more triples.
Headed to the locker room, the Horned Frogs had outrebounded the Cougars 21 to 18 and had converted on 7-of-15 (46.7 percent) attempts from three.
Third Quarter
TCU began the half with seven-straight points to open a 36-27 advantage. Following a close-range bucket from Gustin, TCU hauled in an offensive rebound and kicked it out for a second-chance triple. Calvert responded with an impressive turnaround to trim the deficit to eight before TCU hit another 3-pointer to make it 42-31.
Following a media timeout, Smiler hit a pair of free throws before TCU knocked down another second-chance three before a layup and a foul to take its biggest lead of the game at 48-33. With 1.1 left on the quarter clock, Woolston lobbed a pass into the crowded paint for Gustin as she scored with a foul, converting the three-point play to end the quarter trailing 50-38.
Fourth Quarter
After TCU retook a 15-point advantage at 53-38, the Cougars applied full-court pressure and embarked on a 7-0 run, holding TCU scoreless for over three minutes. Gustin’s pull-up jumper near the free throw line was followed by a layup from Woolston. Despite an empty possession after three offensive boards, Davenport hit a triple on the Cougars' next trip down the floor, after a Horned Frog turnover, to cut the deficit to 53-45 with 5:50 to go.
TCU responded to the Cougar momentum with a 6-0 run of their own to push its lead back to 14.
Staring at a 60-45 deficit, BYU went on another run, scoring eight unanswered with four points from Davenport and layups from Gustin and Woolston. Down just 60-53 with under two minutes remaining, TCU’s Aaliyah Roberson hit what became the dagger three to go up 63-53 with 1:22 left.
BYU would ultimately fall to the Horned Frogs, 68-58 to fall to 5-10 in Big 12 play.
Up Next
The Cougars will head to Ames, Iowa for a Saturday rematch with Iowa State in hopes of avenging an 80-75 home loss on Jan. 6. The game tips at 6 p.m. CT and will be available to watch on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ or to listen via live play-by-play on BYU Radio 107.9FM/BYURadio.org/BYU Radio App with Jason Shepherd.
