No. 10 TCU secured a 74-62 victory over Kansas State in the Big 12 Tournament semifinal. Marta Suarez led the Horned Frogs with 22 points, 14 of which came in the third quarter. The game took place in Kansas City, Missouri.
Horned Frogs Advance to Tournament Final
TCU, the regular-season champions, will now compete against No. 15 West Virginia in the tournament final. West Virginia secured their place in the final after winning their semifinal against Colorado. In the regular season, TCU and West Virginia split their two games.
TCU’s record now stands at 29-4. Olivia Miles contributed 18 points to the win, while Taylor Bigby and Veronica Sheffey each added 10 points.
Wildcats’ Tournament Run Ends
Kansas State’s Jordan Speiser scored 16 points. Nastja Claessens added 14 points, Taryn Sides had 11, and Tess Heal scored 10. Kansas State’s record is now 18-17.
Kansas State had reached the tournament semifinals as a No. 12 seed, playing their fourth game in four days.
Key Moments in the Game
TCU gained momentum early in the third quarter, outscoring Kansas State 24-16 in the period. They limited the Wildcats to 25% shooting from the field in the fourth quarter. K-State’s defence helped them stay competitive early in the game.
Five steals in the first five minutes led to an 8-0 run and a 10-8 lead for K-State. Miles hit a 3-pointer, putting TCU up 18-13. However, when she picked up her third foul at 7:01 of the second quarter, the Wildcats had tied the score.
K-State held a 33-32 lead at halftime, led by Speiser with 12 points and Claessens with 11. Suarez led TCU with eight points at the half. The Wildcats hit 4 of 7 shots from 3-point range in the second quarter.
Statistical Breakdown
- TCU controlled the boards 27-12.
- TCU held a 16-8 advantage in points in the paint.
- K-State forced 12 TCU turnovers.
- K-State held an 11-0 advantage in points off turnovers.
TCU will look to repeat as tournament champions on Sunday.