TCU needed only one quarter to settle in, then spent the rest of the night separating itself from Le Moyne.
The Dolphins hung around early and were tied 17-17 after the first quarter, but that was about as long as the game stayed competitive. TCU rolled from there, outscoring Le Moyne 79-24 over the final three quarters to cruise to a 96-41 win.
The final numbers told the story of a team that controlled just about everything once it found its rhythm. TCU shot 52% from the field, while Le Moyne finished at 29%. The Horned Frogs also won the rebounding battle and piled up more assists and steals, a strong sign through two games that the defensive end is already becoming a calling card.
The one area that still needs work is the perimeter shot. TCU struggled from deep in its first game, and the trend didn’t fully turn Thursday. The Horned Frogs shot 26% from 3-point range, which stands out for a program that has usually been reliable from outside under Mark Campbell.
There was a small edge for Le Moyne at the free-throw line, where it shot 86% to TCU’s 78%, but that didn’t change the bigger picture. The Frogs were the better team across the board and never let the game drift back toward doubt.
Depth has been one of the early themes for this group, and TCU again used 11 players. That rotation included a pair of true freshmen from overseas who made a real impact.
Laura Vilcinskas, the Belgian center, followed up her opening-game performance with another strong showing off the bench. After putting up eight points and five rebounds in the opener, she came back with 13 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double in just her second career game.
Jessie-May Hall also gave TCU a lift in reserve minutes. After starting the opener, she moved to the bench and still produced 11 points and two assists while handling point guard duties for the second unit. The Big 12 Preseason Freshman of the Year looked comfortable directing traffic and finishing plays.
Camille Williams added six points and brought the kind of defensive energy that stands out quickly. Bella Hines handled the ball well too, finishing with two points and a team-high six assists. That kind of distribution matters for a team that doesn’t have to lean on just one player to initiate offense.
The starting group also did its job. Clara Bielefeld got the nod over Hall, while the rest of the lineup stayed the same, and this may be a group TCU leans on often.
Lara Somfai led the way with 19 points, matching her career high, and added five rebounds and an assist. She went 1-for-4 from 3-point range, so there’s still room for growth there, but the early returns have been strong.
Jadyn Wooten followed with 16 points, three rebounds and five assists. She played 28 minutes and was in control throughout, attacking the basket and showing a jumper that looked sharp. Lanie Grant also gave TCU a needed boost from outside, hitting 3 of 7 from beyond the arc.
Clara Silva kept doing what she does, finishing with eight points, eight rebounds and an assist. Bielefeld added seven points and four assists, continuing to show why her development matters for this roster.
TCU gets another chance to clean up the shooting against Tarleton State on Sunday. The Horned Frogs and Texans tip at 2 p.m. CT inside Schollmaier Arena.
In Other News...
TCU Heads Into Ranked Arizona Test With Plenty Riding On Friday
Friday night brings a little something different for TCU, and not just because the Horned Frogs are heading to No. 22 Arizona for a matchup that carries real weight in the Big 12 race. It is their only Friday game of the season and just their second trip to Tucson in school history, which gives the visit a rare feel even before kickoff. TCU is coming off a win over Kansas, a game shaped by key moments from linebacker Max Carroll and quarterback Jaden Craig, and now the Frogs have to carry that momentum into a tougher road setting.
Sonny Dykes also has to manage the broader picture around the team, with the week complicated by a virus working through the roster. The timing is not ideal, because TCU still has plenty to play for in the closing stretch and every game from here carries added meaning. A strong showing against Arizona would not only boost the resume, it would help steady a team trying to keep its season on track as the finish line comes into view. [Read more 🡒]
Arizona And Noah Fifita Face A Big 12 Test They Need
Friday night brings a Big 12 matchup in Tucson that feels important for both sides, but especially for Arizona as it tries to steady itself at home against a TCU team looking to get back to .500. The Wildcats have been one of the leagues more interesting stories at 6-2, and much of that has centered on Noah Fifita, whose play has helped give Arizona a real chance to matter in its first season of conference play.
The backdrop is a little more complicated now, though, because Arizona is coming off a road loss after a five-game winning streak and needs to show it can keep its footing against a physical opponent with nothing to lose. TCU arrives at 4-4 and has its own reasons to make this a tough night, which puts a spotlight on whether Fifita and the Wildcats can answer the pressure and protect the kind of momentum that has carried them this far. [Read more 🡒]
TCU Gets An Early Test Of Whether Its Hot Start Is Real
TCUs first night out looked the part of a team eager to make a statement, rolling past Lindenwood 98-59 and giving the Horned Frogs an early jolt of confidence. Now the schedule turns quickly, with Southern coming to Schollmaier Arena on Nov. 6, and the matchup should offer a cleaner read on whether that opener was just a comfortable start or the beginning of something more substantial.
Southern arrives off a loss to SMU, so the Horned Frogs will not get a soft landing after their first win. For TCU, the challenge is less about the scoreboard from one night to the next and more about whether the energy, pace and balance from the opener can hold up when the opposition is a little more seasoned, which is exactly what makes this one worth watching. [Read more 🡒]