TCU women’s basketball slams Tarleton State, avoids letdown after NC State win
No. 10 TCU women’s basketball dominated from the opening tip in its 80-32 win over Tarleton State on Thursday night at Schollmaier Arena, showing no letup after its upset of N.C. State, which was the Horned Frogs’ first road game and first victory over a ranked opponent this season.
“The first half, I wasn’t impressed. You know, the first half, we definitely mentally weren’t locked in, and just the energy wasn’t right,” said TCU coach Mark Campbell. “But that’s a beautiful thing about sports, you get two halves and didn’t have any fancy halftime talk, but challenged our group to make sure we’re always playing to our standard no matter who the opponent is, regardless of the score.
“They came out in the second half, and I think we outscored them [46-14] in the second half. But I love the way we played the last 20 minutes.”
The Horned Frogs (5-0) were quick to flex their defensive muscles against the Stephenville-based Texans (2-4), not allowing a single field goal in the first quarter of the game.
Here’s how the Horned Frogs remained undefeated on the season.
Home defense remains dominant
TCU came into Thursday’s game allowing an average of 43 points per game and the Horned Frogs’ defense came out firing in the first quarter, forcing as many turnovers (five) as the Texans had points.
TCU wouldn't allow its first field goal until there was 8:22 left in the second quarter and ended the half with as many blocks (five) as the Texans had baskets.
The defense never let up with the Texans scoring 32 points on 15.5% shooting from the field, their lowest scoring total this season.
Slow start for offense, Olivia Miles
TCU’s offense started slow, scoring 16 first-quarter points on 5-for-14 shooting with four turnovers. Guard Olivia Miles scoring struggles continuing, with three points on 1-for-4 shooting in the first period.
The Horned Frogs also struggled to take care of the ball with 12 turnovers in the first three quarters; their total against N.C. State was 13.
Miles and the offense turned things around quickly with an 16-2 run to start the second half, with five points scored by the Notre Dame transfer.
Miles talked about how she got going in the second half.
“I just woke up. I don’t know why my legs felt heavy at the start,” she said. “I was kind of second-guessing myself for some odd reason, and then I just knew, like, I’ve been in this experience before, I’ve been in college for so long, I knew how to flip the switch and be more aggressive, and you know, my teammates helped me with that, and they spaced the floor so well, so they just make it easy.”
Miles ended the game with 18 points, five rebounds and seven assists.
After the game Campbell talked about Miles’ impact on the offensive end. TCU finished with 23 assists.
“She’s the head of the whole thing, and she does such a good job always playing the game right, and all her teammates follow her,” Campbell said.
Taylor Bigby sets season high
Taylor Bigby had already set a season high in scoring (13) and 3-pointers made (three) against the Texans, all before the final frame started.
Bigby ended up scoring 18 points, going 4-for-7 from the 3-point arc, with five rebounds and an assist. She talked about what’s led to her success.
“I think, just fully, like trusting myself and just trusting my teammates and going out there and not playing outside of myself, so just letting the game come to me, and it’s working,” said Bigby.
Campbell said Bigby is playing excellent this season and that he’s happy for her because of the work she puts in.
“Taylor Bigby has played five really good basketball games for us, and it’s hard to come off the bench and do what she does,” he said. “She’s our sixth starter. It’s been neat to watch her maturity, her understanding, feel for the game ... and she’s kind of relaxed. She’s in a zone, to be honest, right now, where she’s not forcing stuff, she’s just hooping. She’s playing the best basketball I think since she’s been here.”
TCU will next play Texas-Rio Grande Valley at 4 p.m. Sunday at Schollmaier Arena.
This story was originally published November 20, 2025 at 8:29 PM.
