Forth Worth, Tx—Today’s matchup between TCU and Baylor held more significance than any game this season. Would TCU finally end Baylor’s impressive 37-game winning streak? To do so, TCU needed to limit turnovers, dominate the rebounding battle, and control the game’s tempo.
From the tip-off, TCU came out strong. They quickly jumped to a 9-0 lead, thanks to key contributions from Madison Conner, who made 3 free throws after being fouled on a three-point attempt, followed by a three-pointer from Hailey Van Lith and another three-pointer from Conner. Sedona Prince was also pivotal, making her presence felt defensively while controlling the middle, while Agnes Emma-Nnopu grabbed four rebounds and hit two three-pointers.
TCU’s defense was solid, and Baylor didn’t score their first points until 5:55 remaining in the first quarter, courtesy of Jada Walker. Van Lith also marked a personal milestone by recording her 500th career assist. The first quarter ended with TCU leading 17-11.
The second quarter saw improvements from both teams, with Baylor’s Sarah Andrews finding her rhythm and scoring her first points of the game with a layup. She became the spark for Baylor’s offense. For TCU, Sedona Prince began to heat up, scoring her first points and asserting her dominance in the paint.
As the game progressed, Baylor closed the gap to 34-28, with Aliyah Matharu coming off the bench to nail a three-pointer. TCU called a timeout at 2:54 remaining in the half.
Out of the timeout, Van Lith made a beautiful drive and dish to Prince for an easy layup. Andrews responded with a deep three-pointer, but TCU quickly regained momentum. Conner and Prince ran a perfect give-and-go, with Prince finishing with a layup, and Conner nailed another three-pointer. The first half ended with TCU leading 41-31.
At the break, Baylor’s Andrews was the team’s leading scorer with 13 points, all coming in the second period. TCU had three players in double figures, with Van Lith leading the way with 12, followed by Nnopu with 11, and Prince with 10. Prince and Nnopu were also key on the boards, with seven and six rebounds, respectively.
The third quarter opened with a 13-2 run by TCU. Van Lith made both free throws after being fouled while driving to the basket. Prince continued her strong play in the paint, grabbing a rebound and scoring on the put-back, plus a free throw. Conner also contributed with a series of scoring plays, either hitting shots herself or assisting on key plays. Baylor called a timeout with 4:50 left in the third.
After the break, Baylor made adjustments, and Darianna Littlepage-Buggs dominated the boards, pulling down five rebounds in a short stretch. Jada Walker also got aggressive, scoring five quick points. Baylor outscored TCU 18-7 during this period, and the third quarter ended with TCU maintaining a 62-49 lead.
In the fourth quarter, TCU made a statement with an Alley-Oop connection from Hunter to Prince, electrifying the crowd. However, Baylor wouldn’t go down easily. Andrews hit two three-pointers, but Van Lith responded with a mid-range jumper and Conner knocked down a three-pointer of her own.
With 4:59 remaining in the game, Baylor was still hanging around, despite struggling with free throws—only making 2 of 5 during this stretch. They closed the gap to just six points, trailing 75-69 with 53 seconds left.
Buggs, Bella Fontleroy, and Aaronette Vonley continued to score, and with five timeouts called in the final minute, the tension was palpable. At this point, TCU simply needed to make free throws to seal the win. With just 15 seconds remaining, Baylor had closed to within three points, 78-75, but TCU stayed composed at the line, converting 5 of 8 free throws, and ultimately secured the 80-75 victory.
Top performers:
- TCU had two players with double-doubles: Sedona Prince led with a game-high 24 points and 14 rebounds, while Agnes Emma-Nnopu added 12 points and 10 rebounds. Madison Conner scored 22 points, and Hailey Van Lith contributed 19 points.
- For Baylor, Sarah Andrews led with 21 points, Aliyah Matharu added 14, and Jada Walker contributed 11. Darianna Littlepage-Buggs grabbed 14 rebounds.
Despite some late-game struggles, TCU has been showing promise with their strong starts and ability to build large leads. However, their recent trend of being outscored in the fourth quarter needs addressing. Once they find consistency in closing games out earlier, they will be a nearly unstoppable force. TCU now heads into two crucial road games, with the biggest test coming next Wednesday in Manhattan, Kansas, when they face Kansas State.
Up Next:
Baylor plays at UCF on Wednesday night. TCU takes on at Iowa State next Sunday.
