Biggest game in program history? TCU women’s basketball set for top-10 showdown with South Carolina
After dispatching Florida Atlantic 78-42 on Wednesday, the TCU women’s basketball team can turn its full focus to the biggest game in program history.
On Sunday, the No. 9 Horned Frogs will face No. 3 South Carolina at 6 p.m. Sunday at Dickies Arena. The game was always the biggest game on the 2024-25 schedule as it would show how far TCU basketball has come in less than two seasons under head coach Mark Campbell.
The stakes have only increased as this will be a top-10 showdown and a chance for a third ranked win for the Horned Frogs, who are having a historic season with the first top-10 ranking in program history.
“Being top-10 is a great milestone, we’re celebrating that,” Campbell said Wednesday. “It’s a big deal, especially when you’ve never done it before in program history. At the same time it’s a long season and you have to get better each week.”
The key to TCU’s hot start has been the influx of transfers led by LSU transfer Hailey Van Lith. Van Lith went through a lot at LSU as the Tigers had such a massive microscope on them last season due to big personalities like Angel Reese and coach Kim Mulkey.
In Fort Worth, it’s been just about basketball and Van Lith has flourished with 19.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 6.6 assists. All are career-highs for the talented guard and it’s even more impressive when you consider that point guard position is relatively new for Van Lith.
At LSU and Louisville, she never averaged more than four assists in four seasons, but now she may be the top point guard in the country.
“She’s scored over 2,000 points, she’s been one of the best scorers in college basketball,” Campbell said. “I think in our system, our style of play and the usage she gets as a ball handler in our pick and rolls, it’s allowed people to see that Hailey is way more than a scorer.
“She has great vision, great feel. She’s a willing passer, so we started calling her a playmaker.”
Van Lith will have her hands full against South Carolina’s relentless defense. Gamecocks guard Raven Johnson is one of the top perimeter defenders in the country and the Gamecocks have one of the best defenses in the country.
Opponents are averaging just 54 points against South Carolina and only shooting 35% from the field. TCU will try to overcome that with their big three of Van Lith, Sedona Prince and Madison Conner.
Prince and Conner are returners from last season and haven’t had any drop off in production despite so many new faces. Prince may be the best big in America as she’s averaging 19.4 points, 10.8 rebounds and 4.3 blocks per game.
Prince could be the X-factor as the Gamecocks don’t have the same size they had in the past, but South Carolina forwards Joyce Edwards and Chloe Kitts are still formidable in the post.
Conner continues to look like one of the best shooters in the country as she’s averaging 15.1 points while knocking down 43.8% of her 3-pointers. If there’s one weakness that South Carolina has shown so far, it’s the Gamecocks 3-point defense which ranks No. 228 nationally in 3-pointers allowed and No. 311 in 3-point field goal percentage.
TCU’s trio gives them a great opportunity to pull off another ranked win, not just because of their stats, but also the leadership they’ve displayed this season.
“That’s the element you never know when you’re putting your puzzle together,” Campbell said. “Getting and blending all these players together, but Madison, Sedona and Hailey, our big three, have set the tone with their unselfishness. This is their last year of college basketball and these are high profile scorers.
“From the get go, they’ve played the game right. They’ve been unselfish, those guys play the game right and it makes it a lot easier to hold everybody else accountable.”
The Horned Frogs have surrounded their big three with more depth and are getting solid production from transfer guards Donovan Hunter and Taylor Bigby. Their contributions could be massive on Sunday as it’s a given that Dawn Staley will have the Gamecocks focusing heavily on limiting the impact of the big three.
With more talent and depth than a year ago, this game looks a lot more winnable than anyone could have imagined when it was initially announced.
After defeating top-25 opponents N.C. State and Notre Dame, the Horned Frogs don’t just think they can win, they expect to.
“This group individually is very confident in their abilities,” Campbell said. “But those wins, the N.C State win, the Notre Dame win collectively with what we’re doing in our system, our style of play, it now gives the team a lot of confidence. With six new players that’s an important part of the process.
“To get them to be all in with what we’re trying to do. It normally takes years to build this continuity at this level, to build a program to operate at this high level. For these guys to do it in (nine) games is rare, it’s definitely not normal.”
The Horned Frogs are ahead of schedule and have put the country on notice that TCU will be a factor in March. South Carolina represents another opportunity to send a statement nationally and the reward could be a No. 1 ranking in the country.
“This is an opportunity where it’s two top-10 teams in the country,” Campbell said. “South Carolina, they’re at the pinnacle of our sport. For them to come into Fort Worth and to have an opportunity to compete against them with a team that’s worthy of going out there and competing.
“These games are hard to get and really hard to get in Fort Worth. It’s going to be a special opportunity, we need an incredible crowd.”
