Feb. 4, 2002

FORT WORTH, Texas - After two more wins this weekend, the TCU Lady Frogs have reached new heights in the program's history--the team's first-ever national top 25 ranking. With 94 votes, TCU jumped two places, from 26th to 24th, in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches' Poll.

"One of our goals that we outlined at the beginning of the season was to finish the year ranked in the top 25," head coach Jeff Mittie said. "The season isn't over, so we haven't reached our goal, but this is pretty special. It's a credit to the commitment made by the players, the coaching staff and the university."

TCU's record stands at 17-4, which matches the best 21-game start in school history. Last year's team was also 17-4 through 21 games and went on to a 25-8 season and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. At 7-1 in Conference USA, the Lady Frogs are currently tied for the league lead with DePaul. TCU ranks among the top 20 nationally in field-goal percentage defense, rebound margin, scoring margin and winning percentage.

The Lady Frogs have won three in a row, 10 of their last 11 and 15 of their last 17 games. TCU currently has a national RPI rating of 31st and are ranked 29th in the Associated Press poll after receiving 33 votes.

The Frogs have a pair of home games this weekend at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum. TCU hosts Southern Miss on Fri., Feb. 8 at 7:00 p.m. and Tulane at 1:00 p.m. on Sun., Feb. 10. Sunday's game will be televised live locally on KFDW-Ch. 52.

USA Today/ESPN Top 25 Women's College Basketball Poll

The USA Today/ESPN Top 25 women's college basketball
coaches' poll, with number of first-place votes and records
in parentheses, total points and previous ranking:

(Records through February 3, 2002)

    TEAM                                   PTS   PVS
    ----                                   ---   ---
 1. Connecticut (40) (24-0)              1,000     1
 2. Stanford (22-1)                        944     3
 3. Oklahoma (18-2)                        899     4
 4. Tennessee (18-2)                       887     2
 5. Duke (19-3)                            832     5
 6. Vanderbilt (20-5)                      803     6
 7. Louisiana Tech (16-3)                  735     7
 8. Purdue (18-3)                          726     8
 9. South Carolina (18-3)                  680     9
10. (tie) Iowa St (17-5)                   581    12
10. (tie) Kansas St (20-3)                 581    10
12. Baylor (18-3)                          576    11
13. Colorado (17-6)                        436    17
14. Florida (15-7)                         326    15
15. Texas (14-6)                           320    14
16. Wisconsin (16-6)                       311    13
17. Texas Tech (13-7)                      303    16
18. Boston College (17-4)                  284    21
19. Colorado St (17-4)                     267    19
20. Virginia Tech (15-5)                   244    20
21. Georgia (15-6)                         243    18
22. Minnesota (17-4)                       218    24
23. North Carolina (16-6)                  158    22
24. TCU (17-4)                              94    NR
25. Old Dominion (15-5)                     75    NR

Others Receiving Votes: LSU 71, Mississippi St 61,
Cincinnati 55, Florida Intl 49, UNLV 40, Geo Washington 21,
Wisc Green Bay 19, Creighton 18, Auburn 16, Notre Dame 15,
Arizona St 14, Clemson 13, Georgia Tech 12, Arkansas 11,
Hawaii 9, No Carolina St 9, Penn St 9, New Mexico 8,
Michigan St 5, Santa Clara 5, Pepperdine 4, Drake 3,
Virginia 3, North Texas 2, Tennessee Tech 2, Depaul 1,
Illinois 1, Saint Joseph's 1.