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GoFrogs: TCU Women Advance to First Big 12 Semifinal

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http://www.gofrogs.com/sports/w-baskbl/recaps/030318aaa.html

TCU Advances to First Big 12 Semifinal

Box Score | Final Stats | Notes | Photo Gallery
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OKLAHOMA CITY -- TCU women's basketball took a big halftime lead and held on for a 90-83 win over Oklahoma on Saturday in the Big 12 Championship quarterfinals at Chesapeake Energy Arena. The fifth-seeded Frogs will now play in their first Big 12 semifinal on Sunday.

TCU (19-11) made nine first-half 3-pointers on its way to a 50-35 lead at the break. The Frogs then withstood a 15-1 Oklahoma (16-14) run in the third quarter that cut the lead down to one point before making clutch free throws in the fourth quarter to clinch the win.

Amy Okonkwo led the Frogs with 21 points, including TCU's final 14 points of the first quarter as the lead began to grow. Amber Ramirez added 19 points while Kianna Ray had 14 points, seven assists and three blocks. The two sophomore guards combined to make 17-of-18 free throws.

Oklahoma City native Dakota Vann added 13 points, including three 3-pointers, one of which shifted the momentum after Oklahoma's third-quarter run and kept TCU ahead for good.

TCU's 90 points were its most in any conference tournament game in program history as the Frogs will play in their first conference tournament semifinal since the 2011 Mountain West Tournament.

Defining Moments
Amy Okonkwo scored TCU's final 14 points of the first quarter, including a pair of 3-pointers, to put the Frogs ahead by two points after 10 minutes. She then made her third trey in the second quarter as part of a 6-of-7 quarter from deep for the Frogs. TCU made 9-of-12 shots overall in the difference-making second quarter on its way to 29 points.

The second quarter allowed the Frogs to push a two-point lead to 15 at the break, 50-35, as TCU made 9-of-15 from deep in the first half. Two of those 3-pointers came from Vann.

Vann's third 3-pointer was the real key as it came late in the third quarter when the Frogs were on the ropes. TCU missed its first eight shots of the quarter and Oklahoma used an 18-5 run to cut the lead down to two points, 55-53, with 2:26 remaining. That is when Vann buried a corner 3-pointer, TCU's first field goal of the half, to push the lead back to five at 58-53.

A Maddie Manning 3-pointer cut the TCU lead down to four points, 71-67, with 4:42 remaining in the game, but the Frogs then held the Sooners scoreless for nearly three minutes to push the lead back to 10 points, 77-67, with 1:47 to go.

TCU would make 20-of-25 free throws in the fourth quarter, including 15-of-16 in the final two minutes, to hold on to the lead.

Stat of the Game
90 -- TCU's 90 points were its most ever in a conference tournament game, and 15 more than TCU has ever had in a Big 12 tournament game. The Frogs had 50 points in the first half, the second most ever in a Big 12 quarterfinal.

Up Next
TCU will take on top-seeded Baylor in Sunday's first semifinal. That game will tip off at 2 p.m. and air on FS1.

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Team Notes
* TCU advances to its first Big 12 semifinal. The Frogs are now 2-5 all-time at the Big 12 Championships.
* TCU last played in a conference tournament semifinal in 2011 in the Mountain West Tournament. TCU had a bye directly into that 2011 semifinal, meaning the Frogs last won a quarterfinal game in the 2008 Mountain West Tournament.
* TCU’s 19 wins are its most since joining the Big 12, and its most since winning 22 games in 2010-11.
* TCU’s 90 points were its most in any conference tournament game in program history. TCU’s previous high was 89 points in an 89-73 win over Charlotte in the quarterfinals of the 2004 Conference USA Tournament.
* The Frogs’ 50 percent 3-point mark, 32 made free throws, 39 free throw attempts and 11 blocked shots were all also program conference tournament records.
* TCU’s 50 first-half points were tied for its most this season and its most against a Big 12 opponent. It is also the second most ever in a Big 12 quarterfinal game.
* The combined 173 points were tied for the third-most in a game in Big 12 Championship history.
* TCU made 10-of-20 3-pointers, its fifth game this season with at least 10 3-pointers.
* TCU’s 32 made free throws and 39 free throw attempts were both season highs. TCU made 20-of-25 free throws in the fourth quarter.
* With a 41-7 margin, TCU has now scored more bench points than its opponent in 29 consecutive games. The season opener against Oral Roberts is the only game TCU's bench hasn't outscored its opponent.
* TCU had a starting lineup of Amber Ramirez, Toree Thompson, Kianna Ray, Adeola Akomolafe and Jordan Moore for the first time this season. It was TCU's 11th different starting lineup of the season.
* TCU won its eighth game away from home this season, its most since joining the Big 12 and most since also winning eight in 2010-11.
* TCU beat Oklahoma twice in a season for the first time ever and also won back-to-back games against the Sooners for the first time. TCU is now 6-22 all-time against Oklahoma.
* TCU is playing as a No. 5 seed in a conference tournament for the first time since 2003 when the Frogs won four games in four days to win the Conference USA Tournament at The Pyramid in Memphis.

Amy Okonkwo
* Scored 21 points on 9-of-13 shooting and 3-of-4 3-pointers.
* Scored 14 straight points to close first quarter and had 17 points at halftime.
* 20-plus points for the eighth time this season; second against Oklahoma; 10th time in her career.
* Double-figure scoring for the 24th time this season; 43rd time in her career.
* Played season-high 30 minutes

Amber Ramirez
* Scored 19 points, including career-highs with 9-of-10 free throws.
* Double-figure scoring for the 17th time this season; 24th time in her career.

Kianna Ray
* Scored 14 points, 8-of-8 free throws, with seven assists and three blocks
* Double-figure scoring for the seventh time this season; sixth against a Big 12 opponent; 10th time in her career.
* Five or more assists for the ninth time this season; 12th time in her career.

Dakota Vann
* Oklahoma City native scored 13 points, including 3-of-4 3-pointers.
* Double-figure scoring for the third time this season.

Jordan Moore
* Scored eight points with team-high 11 rebounds.
* Double-figure rebounds for the fourth time this season; 13th time in her career.
* With one block moved into sole possession of third place on TCU’s career leaderboard with 158 career blocks.
 
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