Coming home is always a reassuring feeling. The atmosphere of a home crowd coupled with the elimination of travel gives the home team a clear- cut advantage. A return home is especially profitable for a team which has lost three straight games on the road.

This weekend's homestand will be the last two home games of the season for the women's basketball team.

"It's always an awesome feeling to come back home especially after a hard road trip," said senior forward Monica Frede. "It will be great to be around our fans and playing in the gym you've been working out in helps. It brings out a feeling of extra excitement."

Though the team will be back at the Al McGuire Center, the two games will not be an easy set. Texas Christian (17-6, 8-1) enters Friday's game tied with DePaul for first place in Conference USA. Houston enters the weekend 17-5 and 7-2 in C-USA.

The Golden Eagles are looking to rebound figuratively and literally after their games last weekend. In losses to Cincinnati and Louisville, the Golden Eagles were collectively out-rebounded by 14 in those games.

TCU is led by senior forward Sandora Irvin. The 6-foot-3 forward is the NCAA career blocks leader. Irvin broke the record in a 74-64 victory over Memphis Saturday. The Fort Lauderdale, Fla. native blocked eight shots in the game, breaking the record Cal State Fullerton's Genia Miller set in 1991.

For her efforts in the win versus Memphis and the team's victory over Saint Louis on Monday, Irvin was named C-USA Player of the Week for the fourth time this season. Over the weekend Irvin averaged 18 points, 10.5 rebounds, four assists and eight blocks over the two games.

This season Irvin has been Ms. "Do-it-all" for the Lady Frogs. The senior leads TCU in points, rebounds, free-throws attempted, free-throws made, blocks and minutes.

Though Irvin's numbers have been sensational this season, Frede feels it will be important from the team to stick with what they have been doing all season.

"It is not a matter of avoiding Irvin," Frede said. "We have to stick with our style of play. It's a manner of recognizing every team and picking apart their strengths and weaknesses.

"I am confident we will have a well-rounded attack."

Sunday's game against Houston is Senior Day. The team will honor Frede and senior forward Lesley Juedes after the game for their years of service to the program. Sunday's game will mark the final home games of Juedes' and Frede's collegiate careers.

"It's amazing to sit and think it's the last home game," Frede said. "We're so used to playing and it becomes such a part of your life and one day it's over.

"I think Sunday will be a celebration of everything that we have put into our careers rather than a sad day."

This article appeared in The Marquette Tribune on Feb. 10 2005.