3 takeaways from TCU women’s basketball loss to Colorado

No. 14 (21-4, 9-3) TCU was coming off a blowout win over Houston and looking to continue its momentum against Big 12 foe Colorado.

But the Buffaloes (16-8, 7-5) had other plans and outlasted the Horned Frogs, 80-79, Sunday afternoon at the CU Events Center in Boulder, Colo.

It was the second most points TCU has allowed in Big 12 play this season.

The Horned Frogs and Buffaloes were tied with 24 seconds left when Colorado’s Jade Masogayo hit two free throws to tie the game at 77-77, after TCU’s Olivia Miles went 1 of 2 on a trip to the free-throw line .

TCU’s Donovyn Hunter had the ball at the top of the key after the Horned Frogs almost lost the ball on an inbounds play and the Oregon State transfer drove right through the heat of the Colorado defense for what seemed like the game-winning basket.

However, Masogayo made an and-one basket in the post to give the Buffaloes the lead, and Miles’ 3-point attempt glanced off the side of the backboard.

Here are three takeaways from the Horned Frogs Big 12 loss:

Miles’ big second half

Miles scored nine first-half points against the Buffaloes but exploded in the third quarter with 14 points scored, with only three missed shots, finishing the game with 31 points scored, tying her career high.

Miles was able to score at will in the second half, whether at the rim, the free-throw line or beyond the arc.

The Buffaloes were able to limit Miles’ playmaking, holding the guard to only one assist.

Defensive letdown dooms TCU

The Horned Frogs’ defense has been their calling card this season as no team in the Big 12 has allowed fewer points per game (54.3), but Colorado didn’t get the memo. The Buffaloes shot 61% from the first half, including scoring 28 points in the first quarter.

Desiree Wooten was the Buffaloes offensive engine early with 12 points scored in a multitude of ways from getting to the line, hitting pull up mid-range jumpers with defenders in her face, hitting step-back 3-pointers and getting to the rim at will all while also leading the teams in assists.

Wooten would only score seven points in the remainder of the game off 2-of-10 shooting.

The Horned Frogs defense sprang back to life in the second quarter, holding the Buffaloes to only six points on 23% shooting and Wooten to two points on 1-of-3 shooting as they went into halftime tied.

Suárez shooting touch continues to return

Marta Suárez shot under 40% in eight straight games but started to break out of her shooting slump in a loss to Texas Tech, where she scored 15 points on 54% shooting and following it up with her first 20-point game in over a month with 24 points against Houston in a blowout win.

Suárez’s shooting continued on its upward trend with her second straight 20 point scoring effort, this time punishing Buffaloes defenders inside with her size and strength in the post.

Suárez’s biggest issue Sunday was foul trouble; she picked up four fouls in the fourth quarter and was taken out with a little over two minutes left in the third quarter.

A Buffalo took a Suárez charge with 4:02 left, fouling out the forward . Suárez would not be the only Horned Frogs to foul out as Clara Silva joined her with just over a minute left.

TCU will play rival Baylor Bears in a game with massive Big 12 implications on Thursday at Foster Pavilion in Waco, Texas.

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3 takeaways from TCU women’s basketball loss to Colorado | Basketball

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