TCU Women’s Basketball Season Concludes in Heartbreaking Loss in Birmingham
The No. 2 seed Horned Frogs’ remarkable run came to an end with a 58-47 defeat to No. 1 seed Texas in their first-ever Elite Eight appearance. While they fell short of reaching the Final Four, TCU’s journey marked a historic achievement, as no Horned Frogs team—men’s or women’s—had ever made it this far.
In a defensive battle, Texas secured the victory in the Regional Final on Monday night in Birmingham.
“They are the greatest team in TCU women’s basketball history,” said head coach Mark Campbell. “The legacy they’ve created has inspired countless young girls in the community, showing them that they can pursue their dreams at the highest level, right here at TCU.”
The game was a struggle for TCU, who never led. The first 1:38 passed without any scoring, with Texas taking an early lead that they would maintain throughout. TCU’s first points came with 4:27 left in the 1st Quarter, a 3-pointer by Agnes Emma-Nnopu, but Texas stayed in control.
Scoring was difficult for both teams. TCU’s shooting was as low as 14.3% early on and peaked at 31% in the second quarter. They ended the game shooting 27% from the field (12-45), 20% from beyond the arc (4-20), and 90% from the free-throw line (19-21). Texas wasn’t much better, finishing with 39% shooting (24-61), 67% from three-point range (2-3), and 73% at the line (8-11).
Turnovers played a pivotal role, especially on inbound passes under Texas’ basket. TCU ended with 21 turnovers, and Texas capitalized on them, scoring 17 points off those mistakes. Multiple 5-second violations on inbounding gave Texas easy opportunities to score.
Despite being down by as many as nine points in the second quarter, TCU fought back, closing the gap to just two points by halftime, 23-21. Texas pulled away in the third quarter, shooting 46.7% to keep TCU from mounting a serious challenge.
With 2:42 remaining, TCU was still only down by six points, 53-47. Guard Hailey Van Lith called it a “dogfight” and added, “We fought hard for that. When no one expects you to do something, it’s tough to find the grit to make it happen. I wouldn’t have wanted to end any other way. Texas played great, and they deserve it.”
This team’s story has been one of incredible transformation. From a 1-17 conference record two years ago to open tryouts last season and now an Elite Eight appearance, TCU’s rise has been nothing short of historic.
“It’s been an incredible ride with this team,” Campbell said. “Everyone loves a Cinderella story, and we became that. We’re building one of the best programs in the nation, and this is just the beginning. This group has left a lasting legacy, and basketball is our way of making an impact on lives.”
TCU heads back to Fort Worth on Tuesday, while Texas moves on to the Final Four, where they will face South Carolina on Friday at 8:30 p.m. CT in Tampa.
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