After a 61-53 victory on the road against Colorado State on Wednesday, the Lady Frogs are set up to play Mountain West Conference leader Brigham Young University on Saturday. The Cougars (18-7, 10-1 MWC) are currently one game up in conference play on the Lady Frogs (18-8, 10-2 MWC).
BYU comes in to the MWC No. 1 versus No. 2 showdown riding a seven-game win streak after defeating in-state rival Utah 61-58 Saturday. The Cougars will have six days in between games as opposed to two days for the Lady Frogs. The Cougars also have not had to leave their home state in that time.
Sophomore forward Delisa Gross said that because the game is at BYU, the game would be one the Frogs are eager to play.
“Playing at BYU is going to be an exciting atmosphere,” Gross said. “They will be ready to play us since it’s on their home floor and we defeated them last month at home. We are really looking forward to this contest and know that if we are able to handle the pressure and start off well that we should be in good shape.”
On Wednesday night, three Frogs scored in double figures against CSU. Senior guard Helena Sverrisdottir and sophomore forward Starr Crawford both scored 18 points apiece. Senior guard Emily Carter followed, scoring 13 points. The victory was the Lady Frogs’ fourth straight win.
Some of the Cougars’ top shooters include senior guard Mindy Bonham, who leads BYU with 12.3 points per game. Other BYU top players include senior forward Coriann Fraughton, who led BYU with 20 points in its last game against Utah.
The Frogs and Cougars last faced off on Jan. 19 at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum. TCU and BYU went back and forth for most of the game, but the Frogs pulled out a 54-51 win.
BYU led the Lady Frogs entering the second half before TCU started putting on extra pressure on the Cougars. TCU tied the game at 40-40 before a Bonham three-pointer put the Cougars back on top.
Sverrisdottir led the Frogs in the home win with 16 points on 5-of-11 shooting, including 4-of-7 from three-point range. Sverrisdottir iced the game for the Frogs in the second half with nine points on 3-of-5 shooting. Carter scored 15 points and sophomore forward Starr Crawford also had a solid game with eight points and 10 boards.
BYU had a chance to tie the game at 54-54, but an errant shot from beyond the arc gave the Frogs the win.
Although TCU was able to secure the win last month, the Frogs are now faced with playing a conference leading BYU team on the road.
Sverrisdottir is ready for the challenge that lies ahead.
“We all know how important this game is,” Sverrisdottir said. “It’s No. 1 vs. No. 2. The first game was a hard-fought battle and this game will be no different. We’ve had some good games between us in the past and this one should be no different.”
Lady Frogs season leaders
Carter leads the team in scoring with 17.8 points per game, while also contributing 4.4 rebounds per game.
Crawford leads the team with 9.5 rebounds per game, while also adding 11.8 points per game.
Sverrisdottir leads the team with 103 assists and 53 steals.
Series history
BYU leads the series overall 9-8.
TCU record at BYU’s Smith Fieldhouse: 3-4.
What: TCU at Brigham Young
When: 3:30 p.m. on Saturday
Where: Provo, Utah (Smith Fieldhouse)
TV: The Mtn.
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