Donovyn Hunter shines in No. 8 TCU’s win over Colorado
Before the start of the Big 12 Tournament, the Star-Telegram identified TCU guard Donovyn Hunter as the biggest X-factor for the Horned Frogs in Kansas City.
Hunter quickly showed why as she was instrumental with 13 points in the Horned Frogs’ 69-62 quarterfinal win over Colorado on Friday.
It was the second most points the Oregon State transfer has scored this season and the Horned Frogs needed each point to avoid an upset by the Buffaloes.
“Donovyn is the unsung hero,” head coach Mark Campbell said. “She is so humble, most nights she guards the other’s team best offensive player. Today she had one of her best games and she’s really come along the last six or seven games. She’s so versatile, she’s such a great competitor.”
The Horned Frogs were short-handed without starting forward Agnes Emma-Nnopu and Colorado had a sound gameplan against TCU guards Madison Conner and Hailey Van Lith.
Conner was held scoreless in the first while Van Lith had just three points and two turnovers. Hunter kept the Horned Frogs afloat with five points including a last second bucket right before the shot clock expired. Were it not for Hunter, TCU would’ve been down more than 17-13 after the first quarter.
“Our team knows it’s March, so you never know how we’re going to start or finish a game,” Hunter said. “Teams play differently, sometimes teams play harder than you sometimes. I was just trying to keep the energy up, focus on defense and do anything I could do on my end to keep the team up.”
The big three of Van Lith, Conner and Sedona Prince came alive in the second quarter with a combined 21 points, but the Horned Frogs still needed Hunter down the stretch.
The Horned Frogs were reeling in the fourth as Colorado cut a 13-point deficit to just three, 59-56, with under three minutes remaining with 3:14 remaining. As the pressure mounted Hunter stepped up once again with a two straight baskets to keep TCU ahead by five.
Hunter also got the assist on Prince’s game-clinching turnaround jumper in the post as the Horned Frogs survived and advanced. Hunter prides herself on her ability to create offense for others, but she was forced to be a scorer in the pivotal moments against Colorado.
“It’s grown throughout the season, finding times of when I should shoot the ball and when I should facilitate,” Hunter said. “Being in my position I want to make plays for my teammates, so today was just focusing on the film, knowing when there were gaps and just taking them.”
Hunter is the youngest player in the TCU rotation with her just being a sophomore, but she plenty of experience in March after helping lead Oregon State to the Elite Eight last season.
She got a taste of what it takes to win at a high level and that mentality followed her to Fort Worth. Despite not starting most of the season, Hunter never complained and embraced whatever minutes she got.
That’s why it was such an easy transition for Hunter when she was inserted into the starting lineup against Arizona State on Feb. 19.
“Throughout the whole season I’ve kept the same mindset of controlling what I can control,” Hunter said. “Whether I’m starting or not starting, it was just about going out and doing what I could do as a basketball player.
I can’t control any of the other things. In terms of my mindset the only thing that changed is when I was coming into the games.”
No player has benefited more from Hunter being in the starting lineup than Big 12 Player of the Year Hailey Van Lith. Van Lith has scored at least 20 points in three of TCU’s last four games including 24 in the win over the Buffaloes.
It’s the best stretch of scoring for Van Lith has had since December and it’s not a coincidence. Hunter allows Van Lith to slide seamlessly from point guard to shooting depending on how teams are playing the Horned Frogs.
With Hunter in the lineup, there’s less pressure on Van Lith to have to create for others and herself.
“I’m definitely a pass first player,” Hunter said. “So to be able to have the ball more so those that are dominant scorers can actually have the ability to score and not have to worry about doing the point guard position and having to get the ball out of traps all the time, I think that’s my role when I come into games. I think it’s helped a lot.”
The Horned Frogs face West Virginia in the Big 12 Tournament semifinals at 3 p.m. Saturday.
This story was originally published March 7, 2025 at 5:10 PM.
