BYU women’s basketball fell to TCU 63-46 on Friday at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, ending its run in the Big 12 Tournament.
After defeating Houston and Utah in back-to-back games, the Cougars were overwhelmed by the Horned Frogs’ defense.
BYU now trails 13-11 in the all-time series against TCU and also lost to the Horned Frogs earlier this season, 72-48.
TCU senior Marta Suarez led the Horned Frogs with 17 points, adding eight rebounds and three steals. Big 12 Player of the Year Olivia Miles recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds while leading the team with six assists.
For the Cougars, guard Delaney Gibb was the only player to score in double-figures with 17 points. She also tied the team high with seven rebounds and led BYU with five assists. BYU struggled offensively, shooting 27% from the field and 18% from 3-point range.
TCU started hot, drilling several 3-pointers while distributing the ball effectively, with six players scoring in the first quarter. After a 15-2 run to open the game, BYU ended its scoring drought when Sydney Benally hit a 3-pointer with just under five minutes left in the quarter.
The Horned Frogs continued to score efficiently, shooting 64% from the field and 71% from beyond the arc in the first quarter. After hitting five 3-pointers, TCU led 24-8 entering the second quarter. Guard Taylor Bigby scored 11 first-quarter points for the Horned Frogs.
Turnovers and sloppy play from both teams resulted in a low-scoring second quarter. Neither team scored a field goal until BYU’s Brinley Cannon hit a 7-foot jumper with 5:58 remaining in the half. BYU’s defense forced several turnovers, helping the Cougars outscore TCU 11-8 going into halftime.
BYU carried that momentum into the third quarter, applying full-court pressure and forcing a shot clock violation and multiple turnovers. A steal by guard Olivia Hamlin led to a Gibb Eurostep layup, capping a 9-0 run that cut the deficit to nine.
The Cougars maintained their pace through the third quarter, but TCU pulled away in the fourth. After BYU’s Lara Rohkohl fouled out with 6:44 remaining, the Horned Frogs pushed their lead to as many as 20 points. BYU never led in the game.
TCU’s defense was dominant, forcing 13 turnovers and blocking 11 shots, nearly six more than its season average. The Horned Frogs also went 17-for-18 from the free-throw line and outrebounded the Cougars 43-35.
Despite its offensive struggles, BYU also played strong defense, holding TCU to 37% shooting while recording seven steals and forcing 14 total turnovers. The Horned Frogs entered the game shooting more than 47% on the season.
The Cougars fell to 22-11 heading into the NCAA Tournament selection process and remain on the bubble ahead of Selection Sunday on March 15. TCU improved to 28-4 and will face Kansas State in the Big 12 Tournament semifinal Saturday.