RUSTON, La. (AP) – The slogan "A Season of Firsts" is splattered
all over TCU's postseason media guide.
|  | | TCU players celebrate the first NCAA Tournament victory in school history. |
The Frogs can add another one to the list – first NCAA
Tournament victory.
Kati Safaritova scored 21 points, including what proved to be
the winning basket with 48 seconds left, as TCU beat Penn
State 77-75 in the Frogs' first-ever NCAA tournament game
Saturday.
Lisa Shepherd, who had 20 points and five 3-pointers for the Lions, hit the front of the rim with a 30-foot shot at the
buzzer.
Maren Walseth had 21 points and 13 rebounds for sixth-seeded
Penn State, which went to the Final Four last season.
Tricia Payne scored 15 for the 11th-seeded Frogs in the
East Regional game.
"We really believed coming in that we could win this game,"
said Jill Sutton, who had 12 points on four 3-pointers for TCU. "I
heard everyone in the locker room before the game saying that we
don't feel like underdogs coming into this game."
It's been a breakthrough season for TCU. The Frogs (25-8)
reached 20 wins for the first time, earned an NCAA bid by winning
the Western Athletic Conference tournament for the first time and
won the program's first regular-season league title.
"It's been a dream season," second-year coach Jeff Mittie
said. "I don't know how long the ride is going to last, but we're
going to enjoy it."
Penn State (19-10), which trailed by as many as 19 in the first
half, tied the score at 72 when Walseth sank one of two free throws
with 2:17 remaining.
TCU regained the lead when Payne swished two free throws a
minute later, but Shepherd nailed a 3-pointer just seconds later to
give the Lions a 75-74 lead.
On the next possession, the 6-foot-2 Safaritova got position
down low and spun in a reverse layup to give TCU a 76-75 lead.
After Tiffany Evans missed the second of two free throws with five
seconds left, Shepherd raced down court but her shot came up just
short.
"I made a bad choice," said Shepherd, gulping back tears. "We
didn't need a 3."
TCU plays the winner of Saturday's second game between Louisiana
Tech, which is hosting the subregional, and Georgia State on
Monday.
 Send this story to a friend
|
|
ALSO SEE
Women's College Basketball Scoreboard
TCU Clubhouse
Penn State Clubhouse
|
