Kansas City, Mo–Winning three times in a season against a team as strong as Baylor is a daunting task for any college basketball team, but TCU did just that, taking down the Bears 64-59 in a thrilling Big 12 Tournament championship game. TCU had lost 37 consecutive games to Baylor, but this time they emerged victorious, completing a historic sweep of their rivals.
TCU head coach, Mark Collin, knew the challenge her team faced and made it clear that “Third Time’s the Charm” meant nothing to his players. “Keep playing until you get it right,” he urged, knowing that beating Baylor would require relentless effort and focus, and he was right.
The game was a battle from the tip-off. TCU’s Donavyn Hunter started the scoring with a three-pointer, but Baylor responded quickly with a layup from Aaronetta Vonleh. Both teams struggled early, trading baskets as they worked through turnovers and sloppy play. By the time the first media timeout arrived with 4:57 left in the first quarter, the score was tied at 7.
After the timeout, TCU committed a shot clock violation, further showcasing the early struggles. Jada Walker gave Baylor their first lead, but TCU quickly regained momentum with a 6-0 run, including free throws from Sedona Prince to give TCU a 13-9 advantage.
The quarter ended with Walker’s second basket giving Baylor a 7-point deficit after the first period. Both teams had battled turnovers, but TCU’s aggressive defense and strong rebounding from Prince helped them take a slim lead.
TCU’s shooting woes continued early in the second quarter, with six consecutive turnovers allowing Baylor to climb back into the game. At 4:29 left in the half, TCU led 21-15, but the Bears were struggling with their own offensive inconsistencies.
After Hunter added a basket for TCU, Baylor’s Julie Conner hit a three-pointer to narrow the gap.
Despite Conner’s shooting, TCU kept a comfortable lead with solid free-throw shooting, and Aliyah Matharu converted a pair of free throws to extend the lead to 26-15.
Baylor made several runs, but TCU held them off, finishing the half with a 30-19 lead. Prince was dominant on the boards with 10 rebounds, helping TCU weather the 14 turnovers they had committed in the first half.
Despite those turnovers, TCU’s defense and rebounding gave them a chance to pull away.
In the second half, the game continued at a fast pace, with both teams looking to find offensive rhythm. Vonleh and Van Lith led the charge for their respective teams, and the physical play increased as fouls mounted.
Bella Fontleroy was called for her fourth foul with 9:32 left in the third, adding more pressure to the TCU defense. Despite these challenges, Van Lith remained hot from the line, going 10-10 at one point in the game.
The third quarter was a back-and-forth battle. With both teams struggling to find consistency, TCU maintained their lead at 51-43 entering the fourth. Van Lith and Yaya Felder each contributed 10 points in the third quarter, but turnovers continued to be an issue for both teams.
The final quarter was a rollercoaster of emotions. Prince made an incredible display of dominance to start the period, grabbing multiple offensive rebounds and scoring on putbacks. However, turnovers were still a problem, and Baylor’s Vonleh responded with a layup to bring her total to 14 points.
With 4:33 left, Baylor had narrowed the gap to 57-53, and a media timeout set the stage for a thrilling finish.
The game’s momentum swung dramatically in the final moments. Baylor tied the game at 57 with a Vonleh layup, but on the very next possession, Prince answered with another layup to give TCU the lead for good. Van Lith made a clutch layup to extend the lead, and Baylor’s final push was stifled when Vonleh missed a three-pointer in the game’s final seconds.
TCU held on to win 61-59, securing their first Big 12 Tournament Championship and completing the season sweep of Baylor. Van Lith’s stellar performance earned her the Player of the Game honors, as she finished with 20 points, including a perfect 10-10 from the free-throw line.
Prince was a force inside, finishing with 12 points and 14 rebounds, while Hunter added 11 points, and Conner chipped in 11 as well.
For Baylor, Vonleh led the way with 20 points, while Felder added 12, and Andrews scored 13 points.
Looking ahead, both teams will head into March Madness, with TCU’s strong performance late in the regular season and their tournament run likely earning them a 2-seed in the NCAA tournament. TCU is expected to host the first two rounds, and their championship victory could set the stage for a deep postseason run.
The road to the national title begins on Sunday, March 17, as the bracket for the NCAA tournament will be announced.
