STAR CITY, W.Va. (Interstat) — In a defensive struggle defined more by grit than grace, Marta Suárez’s 3-pointer at the final buzzer lifted Texas Christian to a 51-50 victory over West Virginia in a Big 12 women’s basketball game Wednesday night at WVU Coliseum.

The Lady Frogs, who trailed for nearly the entire second half, executed a desperate final sequence to perfection. With 2.2 seconds remaining and West Virginia leading 50-48, Jordan Harrison missed her second free throw intentionally. TCU’s Clara Silva secured the defensive rebound and immediately called timeout.

On the ensuing inbounds play from the far baseline, Donovyn Hunter found a curling Suárez just beyond the top of the key. Suárez caught, turned and launched a high-arcing shot over a closing defender that swished through the net as the horn sounded, setting off a wild celebration from the visiting team and silencing a crowd of 3,733.

The dramatic finish capped a game that was an offensive anomaly for both teams. TCU (17-1, 4-1 Big 12) shot just 36.5% from the field and committed 23 turnovers, while West Virginia (14-4, 3-2) was even colder, shooting 28.3% and making only one of its eight attempts from 3-point range. The combined 101 points fell far below the over/under line of 135.5.

The contest was a rock fight from the opening tip. TCU established an early lead behind a 12-8 first quarter, but West Virginia’s physical defense and ability to draw fouls kept it close. The Mountaineers took their first lead late in the second quarter and maintained a narrow advantage throughout a grueling second half where neither team could muster a sustained run.

West Virginia’s Harrison, a guard from Oklahoma City, was the primary offensive engine for the Mountaineers, scoring a game-high 19 points. Her driving layup with 11 seconds remaining gave West Virginia a 49-47 lead, setting the stage for the frantic finish. Gia Cooke added 10 points for the Mountaineers.

TCU’s victory was a product of defensive resilience and key plays from its supporting cast. While star guard Olivia Miles led the Lady Frogs with 14 points, including three 3-pointers, it was the interior defense of Silva that proved crucial. The 6-foot-7 center from Faro, Portugal, blocked four shots, altered countless others, and grabbed a critical late rebound to enable the final play. Veronica Sheffey provided a vital spark off the bench with eight points, all in the second half.

The Mountaineers dominated at the free-throw line, making 19 of 24 attempts compared to TCU’s perfect but limited 6-for-6 performance. However, TCU’s edge from beyond the arc—making seven 3-pointers to West Virginia’s one—ultimately provided the necessary counterbalance.

West Virginia had a chance to seal the game in the final seconds. After Hunter made one of two free throws to pull TCU within 50-48 with 3.3 seconds left, Harrison was fouled and sent to the line for two shots. She made the first but missed the second intentionally, a strategy that backfired when TCU secured the rebound and Suárez delivered her game-winner.

The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for West Virginia, which had been riding high after a road win at Iowa State. TCU, meanwhile, continued its remarkable start to the season, having now won 10 of its last 11 games, the lone loss coming in overtime at Utah.

The game’s most important sequence was undoubtedly the final three seconds. With West Virginia deliberately missing a free throw to deny TCU a set play, the Lady Frogs still managed to advance the ball, set a screen, and find Suárez for a clean look. The senior forward’s clutch shot underscored a night where execution in the half-court was scarce, but TCU produced it when it mattered most.

Both teams continue conference play this weekend. TCU returns home to face Arizona on Saturday, while West Virginia travels to Cincinnati on Sunday. The two teams are scheduled to meet again in Fort Worth on Feb. 15.