FORT WORTH, Texas – Great first quarter defense wasn't enough for the Huskies as they dropped their season opener 78-48 against a tough TCU Horned Frogs team in Schollmaier Arena Tuesday night.
The Huskies (0-1, 0-0 SLC) played tremendous team defense throughout the first quarter, holding TCU (1-0, 0-0 Big12) to just 1-11 shooting through the first eight minutes of the contest. They held the Horned Frogs to just 21.7 percent shooting going 5-23 from the floor in the quarter.
Abbey Sutherland opened the scoring up for the Huskies two minutes into the game with a layup to tie things at two. An
Enya Maguire layup followed by a Sutherland baseline jumper extended the Huskies lead to 6-2 early on. The teams traded buckets for several possessions before the Huskies trailed by two with three minutes to play in the quarter.
Marilyn Nzoiwu went up hard for a layup and was fouled by a TCU defender giving her an and-one opportunity. After sinking the free throw and making it a 12-11 HBU lead, TCU's Lauren Herd made a mid-range jumper to regain the lead 13-12 before the quarter cam to an end.
In the second quarter, the Horned Frogs offense came out firing on all cylinders starting the quarter out on a 16-5 run before
Timia Jefferson and
Lauryn Mapusua made layups to cut into the deficit. The Horned Frogs held the Huskies to 35.7 percent shooting (5-14) and forced misses on all three Husky three-point attempts. The Horned Frogs took a 39-23 lead into halftime.
The Huskies came out strong in the third quarter on a layup by
N'Denasija Collins layup followed by a Maguire three before the Horned Frogs went on a 15-6 run to close out the quarter. The fourth quarter saw more solid Husky defense, holding TCU to 36 percent shooting from the field and just 25 percent shooting from three, while shooting 40 percent from deep themselves. The lead was too large for the Huskies to overcome even after they found their groove from three-point range.
For the game,
Julija Vujakovic led the Huskies in scoring with 11 points while shooting 43 percent from deep while adding four rebounds and two assists. Although she didn't get the start,
Timia Jefferson led the Huskies in minutes played with 28, scored 10 points of her own, and added two boards and two steals. Collins led the Huskies in rebounds with seven. Sutherland scored six points while Maguire, Nzoiwu, and Mapusua each added five.
The Horned Frogs had four players score in double figures led by Lauren Heard's double-double with 16 points and 10 board. Aahliyah Jackson and Kayla Mokwuah each added 12 points while Tavy Diggs dished out six assists.
The Huskies will host St. Thomas (TX) in their home opener in Sharp Gym Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
