The Big 12’s highest-ranked and lowest-ranked women’s basketball teams face TCU this week, and the Horned Frogs find themselves stuck in the middle.
TCU (14-10, 6-7), who falls under a three-way tie for third in the conference, face last -place Kansas on Tuesday and top-ranked Baylor on Saturday.
Both Kansas and Baylor couldn’t be any more opposite of one another.
Kansas (13-13, 4-9) has lost its last three games. No. 3 Baylor (24-1, 13-0) has won its last 23.
While Baylor may be the most confident team at this point, TCU women’s basketball coach Raegan Pebley said there’s a lot of parity within the conference.
“It’s just been an absolute dogfight,” she said.
When Kansas takes on TCU at 7 p.m. in the University Recreation Center, the Jayhawks will be greeted by an array of pink attire for the Frogs for the Cure “Pink Out” game.
The last time the two teams met, the Frogs capitalized on the Jayhawks’ 22 turnovers and left Lawrence, Kan. with a dominating 80-63 win.
The Frogs haven’t been as fortunate on the road lately, though. Riding a two-game losing streak after Saturday’s dismal 23-point loss to Oklahoma, TCU is looking to rebound—literally.
While the Frogs rank seventh in the conference in offensive rebounding, the team ranks last on the defensive glass, averaging 22.5 rebounds per game.
Against Oklahoma, TCU was dominated on the boards 42-33.
Kansas may be the lowest-ranked team in the Big 12, but when it comes to 3-pointers, the Jayhawks are perched on top, shooting 35.9 percent from behind the arc.
Among the top 3-point shooters is senior guard Natalie Knight. Senior forward Chelsea Gardner, standing at a towering 6-foot-3, is also among the Jayhawks’ top scorers, averaging 16.3 points per game.
“They’re a team that can play with great energy,” Pebley said. “And we have to make sure that we are mimicking and duplicating that energy.”
On the Frogs’ side, junior guards Zahna Medley and Veja Hamilton lead the team in buckets. Medley averages 15.3 points per game, while Hamilton averages 11.5 points per game.
Pebely said that defense will be the key focus for the team in preparation for Kansas.
While sophomore center Klara Bradshaw is one of TCU’s defensive assets with a team-high 24 blocks, Pebley said the Frogs are focusing on producing strong defensive performances as a team.
“We’ve really challenged our team defensively because we have not played the type of defense that we need to be playing and what we are used to seeing out of our team,” she said.
Should the Frogs contain the Jayhawks in 3-point shooting and make use of turnovers, TCU may be able to pull off a win in its own court, having only lost three games at home.
TCU won’t have the benefit of home court advantage against Baylor, however, as they tip off in Waco at 7 p.m.
Even with home court advantage, TCU couldn’t manage to gain traction during its last meeting with Baylor. The Bears commanded the game, never giving up the lead, and beat TCU 89-67.
Baylor has a lot to boast about within the conference. The Bears have the No. 1 scoring offense, they are No. 1 in field goal percentage and are No. 1 in both offensive and defensive rebounding.
The Bears also have the nation’s leader in assists, guard Niya Johnson, averaging 8.9 assists per game.
Another player the Frogs need to watch out for is forward Nina Davis, the Bears’ top scorer who averages 21.4 points per game. Last time around, the Frogs allowed Davis to score 24 points.
Protecting the paint will be part of TCU’s strategy against Baylor, Pebley said.
But whether the opponent is a top team in the nation or a team on the lower ranks, Pebley said there’s one element that will remain the same for every game—the Frogs’ attitude.
“We’re always going to be humble and know that every opponent in the Big 12 is a great opponent,” Pebley said. “But we also have to stay confident in what we do and how we do it.”
