Two conference wins in TCU’s first Big 12 women’s basketball season might not look that great on paper, but players and coaches tell a different story.

“Our young group just quite honestly got thrown in the fire,” head women’s basketball coach Jeff Mittie said. “I thought we ended the season better than we started, and hopefully we can carry that forward to this year.”

Three freshmen started for the Horned Frogs last year (9-21 overall, 2-16 Big 12). However, senior center Latricia Lovings said that even in the first season dealing with elevated play from teams like Baylor, most of the games were within a 10-point margin.

This year, the team is looking to build on those positives and make a run for the Big 12 title.

“We’re playing with the intention to win the Big 12 or at least be in the top five,” Lovings said.

Mittie, who is going into his fifteenth season as head coach at TCU, said he is pleased with how things look entering the final two weeks before the season opener against Louisiana-Monroe Nov. 9. He said he is most impressed by the Frogs’ depth at the center and point guard positions.

“This is as good a depth at the point guard spot as I’ve had at my time at TCU,” he said.

A lot of that depth comes from young players, including 6-foot-6-inch freshman center Klara Bradshaw and sophomore guard Zahna Medley, who Mittie said needed to take as many shots as the team could open up for her.

Mittie said while he still has concerns about his youthful team, he is ready to see some game action.

“Our first exhibition is next Monday,” Mittie said. “I’m anxious to get back under the lights and see how we play.”

The exhibition against Southern Arkansas will be at 7 p.m. Nov. 4 in Daniel-Meyer Coliseum.