Texas Christian finally figured out its intrastate Conference USA rival Sunday with a massive 63-55 victory in Houston. Houston won all three of its games against TCU last season, including the C-USA Tournament championship game. The win kept the Horned Frogs tied with three other teams at the top of the conference.

The first half did not include any of the pre-game hype that focused on the frontcourt duel between TCU's Sandora Irvin and Houston's Sancho Lyttle. Both picked up three fouls before 11 minutes were gone in the first half.

Without its star player in the post, TCU opted to shoot from the perimeter. Irvin's supporting cast shot 7-for-9 from beyond the arc in the first half. The team would have held a greater halftime lead (31-30) had it not missed all 11 of its shots inside the three-point line.

Irvin, with zero first half points, capped off a 9-0 run with a three-pointer midway through the second half to give TCU a commanding 54-48 lead.

Irvin finished with 13 points, 12 rebounds, and five blocks. Lyttle had less of an impact and scored just two of her nine points in the final 12 minutes of the game.

As you were at the top

The teams tied with TCU atop the standings — Charlotte, DePaul and Louisville — all held serve with pairs of weekend victories. Charlotte coasted past Tulane and Southern Miss with terrific all-around play from (who else?) guard Sakellie Daniels. Daniels recorded a combined 22 points, 20 rebounds and 17 assists in the two home wins.

No. 17 DePaul held off South Florida, 74-66, Sunday with a 24-point, 17-rebound performance from forward Khara Smith.

Louisville trailed at halftime in both of its weekend road games. Forward Jazz Covington, who has averaged 18 points per game during the team's current six-game winning streak, fueled both comeback victories. She notched 19 points and eight rebounds at Memphis Friday and had 20 and 12 at SLU Sunday.

This article appeared in The Marquette Tribune on Feb. 3 2005.