Forth Worth, TX—-When the game kicked off, there was a lot of curiosity about how Hailey Van Lith would perform. After all, she spent the first three years of her college career at Louisville. However, the question was quickly answered, as Van Lith played a pivotal role in leading TCU to a dominant victory, posting a double-double with 16 points and 10 assists. Reflecting on the game afterward, she described the experience as “nostalgic.”
Initially, the game centered around Jayda Curry, the Louisville shooting guard, who erupted for 13 of the team’s first 15 points. Curry was unstoppable, draining shots from every angle, seemingly without missing a beat. Despite her brilliance, TCU kept Louisville’s lead within reach.
The first media timeout arrived with 3:00 remaining in the first quarter, and TCU trailed by just two points, 15-13. TCU’s coach, Mark Campbell, faced the challenge of finding a defensive strategy to contain Curry.
His solution, however, wasn’t about defense alone—it was about offense. He believed TCU’s strength lay in “firepower” and the ability to make the opponent “pick their poison.”
When play resumed, Curry added another basket, but TCU immediately began executing their offensive strategy. By the time the first quarter ended, TCU had turned the game around with a 7-point run, finishing the period with a 20-17 lead.
Contributions from Donavyn Hunter, Van Lith, and a pair of three-pointers from Agnes Emma-Nnopu and Madison Conner sparked the shift.
The second quarter started with even more energy from TCU. Hunter hit a pair of three-pointers, and Curry missed her first shot of the game. A layup from Nnopu after Hunter’s second three-pointer triggered a Louisville timeout at 7:07, with TCU now leading 28-17 on the back of a 15-point run. Louisville’s coach, Jeff Walz, was clearly frustrated with the momentum shift.
Coming out of the timeout, TCU extended their lead further, with a strong alley-oop from Van Lith to TCU’s Sedona Prince, and another basket by Prince. TCU had now gone on a 17-point streak, the longest of the game. As Louisville tried to break the press, they were forced into several turnovers, one of which led Coach Campbell to call another timeout with 4:44 remaining in the half to prevent a backcourt violation.
Despite Louisville’s pressure defense, TCU maintained its composure. Olivia Cochran and Nnopu traded baskets in the paint, with Cochran even hitting an and-one, but TCU’s offensive onslaught kept coming. Baskets from Van Lith and Prince, along with three-pointers from Conner and Nnopu, pushed TCU’s lead to 47-26 at the half, the largest margin of the game.
Leading the charge at the break for TCU were Nnopu with 16 points, Hunter with 11, and Van Lith with 12. For Louisville, Curry had 17 points, keeping them in the game.
The second half began much like the first, with Curry and Cochran scoring for Louisville, while TCU spread the wealth with contributions from Van Lith, Prince, Conner, and Hunter. By the first media timeout of the second half, TCU had a comfortable 56-38 lead. A pair of free throws by Prince increased TCU’s advantage to 58-44, but the closest Louisville would get in the third quarter was a 14-point deficit.
TCU closed the third period leading 69-51, with Nnopu on 21 points, Prince with 14, Hunter at 13, and Van Lith with 12. Curry had 26 points for Louisville, and Cochran had 14.
In the fourth, Louisville mounted a quick surge, cutting TCU’s lead to 73-64 behind more scoring from Curry and Cochran. However, TCU responded decisively. Van Lith added a basket, then assisted Prince for another score. Curry hit a basket and an and-one, bringing her total to 41 points, but it wasn’t enough to fully close the gap. TCU’s response was swift: Van Lith assisted Hunter for a three-pointer, and Hunter followed that up with a layup to seal the game. The final score was 85-70, sending TCU to the next round.
Top Performers: TCU:
- Agnes Emma-Nnopu: 23 points
- Princess Prince: 19 points
- Donavyn Hunter: 18 points
- Hailey Van Lith: 16 points, 10 assists (double-double)
Louisville:
- Jayda Curry: 41 points
- Olivia Cochran: 15 points
Despite Louisville’s loss, Curry’s performance was remarkable, scoring 41 points against a tough TCU defense. That was nearly three times her average points per game for the season—a stunning individual performance to cap off her college career.
Looking ahead, TCU’s dominant display in this game should send a message to their upcoming opponent, Notre Dame. With all five starters nearly reaching double-digit points, TCU appears to be hitting their stride at the perfect moment. They’ll meet Notre Dame again next Saturday in Birmingham, Alabama, in what could be one of the best games of the entire tournament.
After the game, TCU’s players were interviewed in a press conference, where their humility was evident. Van Lith, Hunter, and Nnopu all deflected credit to each other, with Van Lith saying, “When they trap me and I can’t score, I pass to my shooters. If they don’t hit the shots, I wouldn’t be much. It’s really them, not me.”
Van Lith was also asked about her emotions playing against her former team. She explained, “I wouldn’t call it weird, I’d call it nostalgic. I almost finished my degree in three years at Louisville, and I’m still involved with their charities. The managers who helped me when I was injured are still there, so it’s just nostalgic.”
When asked about her personal journey, Van Lith’s answer was heartfelt and genuine, as she teared up and said, “I’ve been standing on God’s shoulders. All the glory goes to Him.”
