TCU Finds Answers Against Iona, Bigger Tests Await
Updated: 23h
FORT WORTH, TX — TCU’s fourth win came with a reminder: an unbeaten record does not mean everything is clicking.
The Horned Frogs shook off an eight-point first-quarter deficit and an uneven shooting performance to beat Iona 78-53 on Nov. 10 at Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena. Jadyn Wooten scored 19 points, Lara Somfai controlled the glass, and TCU eventually turned a stubborn matchup into another comfortable final margin.
The victory moved the Horned Frogs to 4-0. It also exposed areas that will demand attention as the schedule moves beyond the opening homestand.
Wooten provided the offensive stability, finishing 8-for-11 from the field and 2-for-4 from 3-point range. She added five rebounds and committed just one turnover in nearly 28 minutes, giving TCU a dependable scoring option on an afternoon when perimeter shots frequently missed.
Somfai supplied the muscle. Her 12 points and 14 rebounds included five offensive boards, helping TCU finish with a commanding 46-22 rebounding advantage. Clara Silva added 10 points and eight rebounds, matching Somfai with five offensive boards.
Together, they helped establish the advantage that carried TCU through its rougher stretches: more possessions and more rim opportunities.
Getting there took time.
Iona built a 15-7 lead midway through the first quarter, capitalizing on transition opportunities while TCU struggled to find its range. The Horned Frogs missed all eight of their opening-quarter 3-point attempts and trailed 19-15 after 10 minutes.
The second quarter brought a response, although Iona continued to trade punches. Jessie-May Hall opened TCU’s scoring with a driving layup, and Somfai followed with consecutive putbacks, including a three-point play.
The Gaels still led 28-26 with just under four minutes remaining in the half. TCU answered by closing the quarter on a 14-2 run. Laura Vilcinskas put the Horned Frogs ahead with two free throws, Lanie Grant and
Clara Bielefeld connected from deep, and Wooten finished the half with a driving layup to take a 40-30 lead.
Even then, Iona was not finished.
The Gaels trimmed the deficit to 49-41 with 1:53 remaining in the third quarter. Hall helped shut down that opening, scoring on a drive before turning a steal into another layup. Her five late-quarter points helped TCU take a 56-41 lead into the fourth.
That response became a 17-0 run spanning the two quarters, finally giving the Horned Frogs separation. TCU’s lead eventually reached 29.
Hall finished with nine points, three assists and three steals. Bielefeld contributed eight points and six rebounds, while Bella Hines delivered six points, a team-high five assists and two steals off the bench.
Chloe Vasquez led Iona with 20 points on 7-for-10 shooting, adding five rebounds and four steals. Anyla
Herbert scored 11 as the Gaels fell to 1-3.
TCU finished with a 46-24 advantage in points in the paint and 17 second-chance points. Those numbers helped offset a 7-for-31 performance from beyond the arc and 17 turnovers. The Horned Frogs won convincingly, but the route there was less polished than the final score suggested.
The upcoming schedule will test whether TCU can clean up those possessions while preserving its interior
strength.
Following home dates with Southeastern Louisiana, Abilene Christian and UT Arlington, the Horned Frogs face Utah State on Nov. 22. Georgia Tech and Mississippi State follow on consecutive days at the Fort Myers Tip-Off, Nov. 27–28. That quick turnaround will test recovery, preparation, and the bench's reliability. A trip to Memphis on Dec. 3 and a matchup with Texas on Dec. 6 add another demanding stretch.
Three concerns stand out from the Iona game.
First, TCU needs more consistent perimeter production. Offensive rebounds rescued several possessions, but relying on that advantage every night becomes risky when opponents can compete more evenly inside. Grant finished 1-for-8 from deep, while Hall and Hines missed all seven of their attempts.
Second, ball security must improve. Iona recorded 12 steals and scored 16 fast-break points. Against opponents capable of sustaining that pressure, empty possessions could turn a manageable deficit into a much more difficult comeback.
Third, keeping Somfai available matters. She collected 14 rebounds in just under 21 minutes but finished with four fouls. Her ability to extend possessions is already valuable; foul trouble limits how consistently TCU can use it.
Conference play introduces further tests, including road games at Iowa State on Dec. 30 and West Virginia on Jan. 10, followed by Baylor at home on Jan. 14. That stretch will offer a clearer measure of TCU’s ability to execute away from its own floor and recover between challenging matchups.
The early editorial prediction is 24-8 overall and 12-6 in conference play, with TCU earning an NCAA Tournament berth. That projection is based on early evidence and the schedule, with plenty of room for revision once the Horned Frogs face stronger opposition.
Wooten’s efficiency, the rebounding partnership of Somfai and Silva, and contributions across the rotation provide a credible foundation. More consistent outside shooting and fewer turnovers would raise the ceiling.
Against Iona, TCU showed it could recover from an uncomfortable start. The next step is giving itself fewer problems to solve.
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