TCU Beats UCF After Injuries; Adding 4 New Team Members

After a two game absence after being riddled with injuries, Texas Christian University emerged with a close win over UCF. Hoops fans across the country were anxious to see how the team would perform after having to forfeit two big conference games due to injuries.

Just last week, the Horned Frogs announced they were canceling their matchups against Kansas State and Iowa State because the team didn’t have enough players to compete. TCU began the season 14-0, but then lost 4 games, after injuries took over the team.

Yesterday’s performance by Sophomore forward Aaliyah Roberson helped carry the team to a victory over the Knights. Roberson led the team with 17 points and 4 rebounds. Junior Una Jovanovic and Senior Agnes Emma-Nnopu also chipped in with 11 points and 10 points respectively. 

Sarah Sylvester is one of the four new team members who joined the squad after they held tryouts earlier last week. Sylvester is also a member of the TCU volleyball team. Social media has been anticipating this game since the new roster spots have been announced. Hoping that the walk ons would get a chance to earn some minutes. Sylvester checked in with  a little over one minute left in the third quarter. 

Sylvester was the only walk-on to appear in Tuesday night’s 66-60 win over the Knights. Victoria Flores came up with a huge steal, and bucket in the 4th quarter to help coral the win for TCU.

Let’s get to know each of these new members of the Horned Frogs squad a little better.

Mekhayia Moore is a 5’7’’ Sophomore guard from Brownboro, Texas. Moore led the Bearettes to their first ever TX UIL Girls Basketball State Championship as a senior in 2022. She was also named State Championship MVP.

Ella Hamlin is a 5’9’’ freshman guard from Granbury, Texas. She scored more than 1,500 career points at Grandbury High School. She was crowned District offensive Player of the year in 2022 and 2023.

Piper Davis is a 5’8’’ freshman guard from Boise, Idaho. She helped guide Timberline High School to the Idaho High Schools Activities Association 5A Girls state championship in 2022.

Sarah Sylvester is a member of the TCU Volleyball team, but she was also a solid high school basketball player. She earned back to back all catholic high school league honors, her junior and senior year. When she made her career first appearance on the basketball court for TCU, it came with a standing ovation. Though her name isn’t on the back of the jersey yet, fans know exactly who she is.

Since the announcement of injuries, followed by the decision to cancel two conference games, fans are invested in how the Horned Frogs season will pan out. Even more so, now with the preferred walk-on invitations from head coach Mark Campbell following open tryouts. TCU’s next game is Saturday Jan. 27 against Texas Tech at 3 p.m. 

Brandolyn Hellams is a journalist and producer in Atlanta, who covers sports and entertainment.