No. 11 TCU inches closer to top-16 seed with win over Arizona
Madison Conner scored 18 in her return trip to Tuscon as the No. 11 Horned Frogs inched closer to a top-16 seed in the NCAA Tournament with a 85-73 win over Arizona Sunday.
Hours before tip-off the NCAA Tournament selection committee released its top-16 seeds and TCU (24-3, 12-2) was slotted No. 9 meaning, the committee right now has the Horned Frogs as a No. 3 seed. The top four seeds host first and second round games.
Despite seeing the good news, TCU got off to a slower start than usual as the Horned Frogs only led Arizona 18-17 after the end of the first quarter. Prince and TCU center Sedona Prince helped the Horned Frogs open the game up in the second as the duo combined to score 16 of TCU’s 27 points as the Horned Frogs entered halftime ahead 45-38.
The Wildcats made a run in the third quarter as Arizona used a 11-2 run to tie the game at 52 midway through the third. Reserve center Deasia Merrill came off the bench for the Horned Frogs and she sparked a 8-2 run with a pair of free throws and then capped the run with a basket in the paint as TCU increased its lead back 60-54.
The decisive run came in the fourth after the Wildcats cut it to 68-63 with 7:39 remaining. The Horned Frogs scored four straight baskets in the paint, including two from Prince to go ahead 76-63 and TCU would maintain a double digit lead the rest of the way.
Prince scored a team-high 22 points while Connor knocked down four 3s against her former team. Connor played three seasons for the Wildcats, only starting one game and never averaging more than six points.
Now she’s one of the top shooters in the country for a top-15 team and wasn’t afraid to show her former program what they missed out on.
As for seeding, it’s too early to call TCU a lock for a top-16 seed, but barring a 0-4 finish to the regular season it’s hard to imagine the Horned Frogs falling to a No. 5 seed. The win also allowed TCU to keep pace with Baylor and Kansas State as the three teams are tied for first place at the top of the Big 12 standings.
The Horned Frogs travel to face Arizona State at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.
This story was originally published February 16, 2025 at 5:26 PM.
