Busy break
While most students were relaxing over Winter Break, TCU’s athletic teams were busy rewriting the record books.

Football
The Frogs scored their 500th victory when they defeated Colorado State, 17-3 in the AXA Liberty Bowl Dec. 31. They finished the season ranked 22nd in the nation according to the USA Today/ESPN coaches Poll and 23rd in the Associated Press Poll with a 10-2 record overall and 6-2 in Conference USA.

TCU finished the season with the nation’s top-ranked defense allowing an average of just 240.25 yards a game.

Individual players receiving honors over the break were senior wide receiver LaTarence Dunbar who was named Liberty Bowl Most Valuable Player. Freshman Lonta Hobbs became the first freshman in school history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season with 1,029 yards. He also scored a freshman record of 13 touchdowns and established a freshman single-game rushing record with a 287-yard performance against Memphis Nov. 30. Senior linebacker LaMarcus McDonald will participate in the Senior Bowl.

Women’s basketball
The Lady Frogs defeated then-ranked No. 9 Vanderbilt, 70-53 Dec. 28. It was the team’s first win against a ranked team since defeating Penn State in the 2001 NCAA Tournament. Senior guard Tricia Payne scored her 1,000th point in the game. Payne, who is still battling an ACL injury she sustained at the beginning of last season, scored 21 points overall, including a career high five 3-pointers.

TCU beat Texas Southern Dec. 30 76-16 setting a NCAA record for fewest points allowed in a game.