BYU basketball: Cougars capture key road win at TCU

FORT WORTH, Texas — Consistently strong defense and another strong offensive performance from Mindy Nielson helped BYU win its tenth-straight game, downing TCU 62-46 in Fort Worth Tuesday.

"This was a great defensive effort," said BYU head coach Jeff Judkins. "We had great rebounding from Mindy, Jazmine (Foreman) and Shawnee (Slade)."

Free throws kept the Horned Frogs close throughout the first half, as they shot 17 to BYU's three. The Cougars held TCU to only nine points from the field in the first 20 minutes.

The second half would be different, as BYU outscored TCU 34-22, including a 12-0 run that would help the Cougars put the game away.

Nielson led all scorers with 22 points. Foreman had nine boards, a new career-high, to go with her nine points and six assists. Stephanie Buhler went 2-of-7 from the 3-point arc; her six points also tied a career-high.

For the first time this season, the Cougars had only one player in double-figures.

Slade had nine points and eight rebounds in 31 minutes.

"This team is a very balanced scoring team," said Judkins. "Everyone contributed, and everyone made a difference."

BYU's tough defense stifled the Horned Frogs throughout the game. TCU shot only 22 percent (11-of-49) from the field and 3-of-16 (19 percent) from behind the 3-point line. The Cougars outscored TCU in the paint, 30-12, and in fast-break points, 14-2.

In the winning effort, BYU improves to 14-2 (2-0, MWC), while TCU drops to 10-6 (2-1, MWC).

The Cougars return home to the Marriott Center to face New Mexico on Saturday at 3 p.m.

BYU will then head to Las Vegas to take on UNLV on Jan. 21.