Cougars look to split Texas swing as they visit TCU on Tuesday

PROVO, Utah — BYU looks to split the Texas swing as the Cougars face the No. 11 TCU Horned Frogs on Tuesday in Forth Worth. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. CT with the game streamed on ESPN+ and broadcast live on BYU Radio with Jason Shepherd on the call. 

Matchup Breakdown
BYU and TCU last met on Feb. 21, 2024, when the Horned Frogs downed the Cougars 68-58 at the Marriott Center. The last game at Schollmaier Arena was BYU's inaugural game as a member of the Big 12 Conference on Dec. 30, 2023, and TCU handed Whiting's squad an 81-67 loss. 

The last win in the series for the Cougars came on Nov. 23, 2018, when BYU faced the Horned Frogs at the SDSU Thanksgiving Classic. Three BYU players finished in double figures led by Brenna Chase and Shaylee Gonzales who scored 18 and 12, respectively. 

All-Time: 11-10

At TCU: 4-6

Whiting vs. TCU: 0-2

BYU Cougars  ||  12-11, 3-9  ||  Big 12 Conference

WHAT'S AT STAKE  ||  With a win, BYU would match its highest-ranked win in program history. The Cougars knocked off No. 11 Iowa State in the 2002 NCAA Tournament. It would also mark the highest-ranked win of Whiting’s tenure besting the Cougars’ 78-66 win over No. 18 Baylor, the first ranked win of her career.

REGULARLY SCHEDULED PROGRAMMING  ||  Delaney Gibb has been named the Big 12 Freshman of the Week for the seventh time, tying Baylor’s Brittany Griner for third-most in conference history. The freshman has scored over 14 points in 19-of-23 games this year including eight games of 20 or more. Gibb leads BYU in scoring at 17.1 points per game on 46.2 percent shooting and 39.5 percent from deep. The Canada native averages 5.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.4 steals.

VALUING THE BASKETBALL  ||  Ball security is crucial for BYU. In Big 12 play, the Cougars have committed 19.4 turnovers per game and opponents have scored 18.4 points off giveaways. In wins this season, BYU only coughs it up 14.1 times and surrenders 12.0 points off turnovers. In losses, BYU averages 19.4 giveaways and 18.4 points given up.

In BYU's loss to Baylor, the Cougars committed 26 turnovers and gave up 18 points off of giveaways, the most turnovers committed since the 31-turnover game against West Virginia. BYU is 5-4 when posting a positive turnover margin, but 6-6 when committing more turnovers than the opposition.

FINISHING POSSESSIONS || Crashing the defensive glass has been a point of emphasis for Whiting’s squad. BYU has given up 12 offensive boards and 13.9 second-chance points in Big 12 games. In their three conference wins over Houston, ASU and UCF, BYU only surrendered 10.5 O-boards and 10.5 second-chance points.

The Horned Frogs rank 192nd nationally in offensive rebounds, but overall outrebound their opponents by 7.5 rebounds per game. BYU is 1-5 when being outrebounded this season.

DEFENSE IS THE CALLING CARD  ||  Coach Whiting calls defense the silver bullet to her team’s success. In BYU’s 12 wins, the Cougars have held opponents to 61.0 points and 35.9 percent from the field. In losses, opponents have shot 42.6 percent from the floor, 36.6 percent from deep and scored 73.2 points. BYU has only allowed 70 or more points seven times this season, but all have come in Big 12 play, six in losses.

SECONF-QUARTER BLUES || Since the beginning of conference play, the Cougars have struggled mightily in the second quarter. BYU has lost the second quarter in seven of their 12 Big 12 games by an average of 3.3 points, being outscored 19.6-16.3

Head Coach – Amber Whiting

• Alma Mater: BYU, 2001
• Division I Career Record: 44-45  ||  3rd Season
• Record at BYU: 44-45  ||  3rd Season

TCU Horned Frogs  ||  22-3, 10-2  ||  Big 12 Conference

COMFORTABLE AT THE CRIB  ||  TCU is a perfect 15-0 at Schollmaier Arena this season and has won its games by an average of 28.8 points at home. 

The Horned Frogs shoot a blistering 47.9 percent from the field, 38.2 percent from three and score 83.0 points per game. In comparison, TCU scores 72.0 points per game on 46.6 percent shooting and 36.5 percent from three away from home. 

CONNOR IS CASTING FROM DEEP  ||  Madison Conner ranks in the top 5 nationally in 3-point field goal attempts (193), 3-pointers made (89), 3-point percentage (.461) and 3s per game (3.56) The senior guard is the Frogs' third-leading scorer at 15.2 points per game on 43.8 percent from the field. She also ranks second on the team at 3.9 assists per game. 

NOT IN PRINCE'S PALACE  ||  Sedona Prince is the second-leading scorer for TCU at 17.8 points per game on 60.9 percent shooting which is good for the 11th-highest percentage in the NCAA. The fifth-year senior also ranks third in Division I for blocks and blocks with game with 75 and 3.13, respectively. She also leads the Horned Frogs with 9.1 rebounds per contest. 

VAN LITH DROPPING DIMES  ||  Hailey Van Lith is the floor general for the Frogs and ranks 10th in the country with 141 total assists, 5.6 per game. She also sits in the top 50 in assist-to-turnover ratio at 2.17 while leading TCU in scoring at 17.9 points per game. 

Head Coach – Mark Campbell

• Alma Mater: Hawaii
• Career Record: 82-39  ||  4th Season
• Record at Baylor: 82-39  ||  4th Season