Three takeaways as No. 17 TCU women’s basketball cruises to a season-opening win
The No. 17-ranked TCU women’s basketball team got off to a roaring start with an 82-43 win over North Carolina A&T in its season opener Thursday at Schollmaier Arena.
“It’s just nice to get that first one done and get out there and compete,” coach Mark Campbell said. “With how many new players we have, the freshmen and the portal additions, Donovyn Hunter’s our only returning starter from a year ago, I’m really proud of this group.”
It was the first look at a new-look TCU team that only returned four players from last year’s Elite Eight squad. Led by Notre Dame transfer and preseason All-American guard Olivia Miles, the Horned Frogs made a strong first impression with a deep, defensive-minded roster.
The opening five minutes offered a glimpse of what the Horned Frogs could eventually be, as Miles started the game with a straight-line drive to the basket for a layup. TCU then forced a turnover using a new full-court press defense.
The turnover eventually led to a bucket for 6-foot-7 Kentucky center Clara Silva. The Horned Frogs (1-0) forced another turnover, and then Hunter turned that miscue into points as the Aggies (0-2) quickly took a timeout less than 60 seconds into the game.
TCU’s experience, ballhandling and size all shined during the opening sequence and throughout most of the game as the Horned Frogs cruised to an opening win.
“There’s a high ceiling for this group,” Campbell said. “We’ve got a lot of work to do, which is normal. This group has a chance to be special, we have a long ways to go, but I’m really excited about the group. I believe this group has a chance to play a lot of different ways because of our size and versatility.”
The decisive run came in the third quarter as the Horned Frogs ended the period on an 18-6 run to take a 59-32 lead into the final quarter. Silva, Marta Suarez and Taylor Bigby sparked the run, while Miles sat most of the quarter with a cramp.
Miles led TCU with 16 points, eight rebounds and six assists while knocking down three 3-pointers. Suarez added 19 points and four rebounds.
“I think the way we shared the basketball and spaced the court allowed our playmakers space to get in there and create for others,” Suarez said. “I think today we did a good job of finding each other.”
The Horned Frogs will next face Sam Houston at 7 p.m. Sunday.
Here are more takeaways from the Horned Frogs’ commanding win:
Miles the Magician
Miles quickly showed TCU fans why she’s projected to be a top-three pick in the upcoming WNBA draft, as she controlled the game as a scorer and playmaker. Miles dazzled with no-look passes, played strong defense and showed she can also score at will when needed.
After jumping out to a 15-2 lead, Miles and the offense hit a slump as she committed four turnovers in the final 5:47 of the first quarter, which allowed North Carolina A&T to trail only 17-10 after one. Miles shook off the turnovers and began to take over in the second quarter, as she knocked down back-to-back 3s to increase TCU’s lead to 30-15. Miles then found an open Bigby for another 3 as the Horned Frogs retook control of the game with a 33-17 advantage.
Miles didn’t need to do much in the second half after missing most of the third quarter with a cramp, but she still showed why she’s one of the best guards in the country.
“It just feels great to play with a great group of girls,” Miles said. “Just having the right pieces around me, and they’re all just amazing humans.”
New defense?
As good as TCU was last season, the Horned Frogs didn’t have a ton of depth to rely on at times. If the first game is any indication, things will be different this year, as TCU unleashed a full-court press to fluster North Carolina A&T in the first half. Pressing is only possible when you have the requisite numbers of bodies to run the style, and the Horned Frogs have that this year, particularly in the backcourt.
Miles, Hunter, Maddie Scherr and Veronica Sheffey all had strong moments at the top of the press as TCU forced 10 turnovers and held the Aggies below 30% shooting in the first half en route to a 39-23 lead. Hunter in particular thrived in the press as she forced three turnovers and played full-court defense the entire game while also adding 17 points.
“I love it. For me, it’s just like a starter for the game,” Hunter said. “There’s always going to be some excitement, some nerves, and you want to be able to get your feet out from under you. I personally love a press. You can gamble a lot more and set the tone for the game.”
The Horned Frogs eased off the press in the second half as they led by 20-plus points, but it bodes well for TCU’s chances of contending in the future knowing it can unleash a new defensive wrinkle at any time.
Size advantage
The Horned Frogs are the tallest team in college basketball this season and used that advantage to physically overwhelm North Carolina A&T behind the play of Silva and the 6-3 Suarez, a transfer from Cal. While not as polished as Sedona Prince offensively yet, Silva showed she can provide the same caliber of rim protection as Prince did.
Silva swatted away three shots and deterred countless others while also grabbing eight rebounds. As the game wore on, Silva showcased her developed offensive skill set as she made a nice bucket in the post and also hit a 15-footer in the fourth quarter. She finished with 13 points.
While Silva was controlling the glass, Suarez was using her versatility as a three-level scorer to help TCU stretch its lead. Suarez had a sequence in the third quarter when she knocked down a 3, added a post bucket and made a free throw that helped spark the decisive run that helped TCU put the game away.
The 6-7 Kennedy Basham, a transfer from Arizona State, also made her mark on the game, as she blocked six shots and added four points and six rebounds.
The Horned Frogs may be the only team in the country that can sub one 6-7 off the court just to bring in another.
This story was originally published November 6, 2025 at 6:03 PM.
