FORT WORTH – No. 9 TCU took its shot at the defending NCAA champions on Sunday in the U.S. LBM Coast to Coast Challenge featuring the Hoopfest Women’s Basketball Classic.
Ultimately, South Carolina proved it remains the pinnacle of the sport, as the Horned Frogs came up short vs. the third-ranked Gamecocks, 85-52, inside Dickies Arena.
Hailey Van Lith netted a game-leading 21 points and six assists on an otherwise trying evening for TCU (9-1), which saw its 24-game nonconference winning streak halted.
TCU gave the ball away 20 times and shot an uncharacteristic 33 percent (17-51) from the field. South Carolina (9-1) benefited from 30 points off turnovers and 28 off paint touches.
The Horned Frogs jumped out to a 5-2 edge in the game’s first minute off a 3-pointer from Taylor Bigby and midrange jumper by Sedona Prince. It proved to be TCU’s lone lead of the night. Tied 9-9, South Carolina separated via a 7-0 run to assume a multi-possession advantage it never relinquished with 2:20 to go in the period.
Van Lith hit a step back 3-pointer to close the quarter and get TCU within two scores of the Gamecocks at 20-14. She bridged nine straight points for the Frogs between the first and second frames.
South Carolina scored eight unanswered to open the second quarter, doubling up TCU 28-14. An and-one from the right block from Aaliyah Roberson cut into the Gamecocks’ lead, 33-23, entering the media timeout, but it proved to be as close as TCU would get the rest of the way.
The Gamecocks closed the half on an 11-0 run over the final 4:00, holding TCU without a field goal for nearly five minutes. South Carolina shot 56 percent (17-30) and produced an 18-7 margin on the glass in the first half.
TCU converted just three field goals in the third quarter as the deficit reached 30. Van Lith tallied 10 fourth quarter points.
South Carolina tallied 50 bench points, including a team-leading 20 by MiLaysia Fulwiley. The Gamecocks connected at a 51 percent clip (30-59) for the game and finished 17-19 at the charity stripe. Chloe Kitts led all players on the boards with 12.
Up Next
TCU puts its season on pause for a week of final exams before returning to the court at 2 p.m. on Dec. 15 when it hosts the 18th Maggie Dixon Classic opposite Louisiana Tech. The game honors the legacy of the late Army women’s basketball head coach and younger sister of TCU men’s basketball head coach Jamie Dixon. The Sunday matinee will mark the sixth time the Classic is staged in Fort Worth.
Team Notes
- TCU dropped its first nonconference game under Mark Campbell. The Frogs entered having won 22 consecutive nonleague tilts under the second year head coach.
- TCU played its first top 10 matchup on Sunday. Conversely, the neutral site bout was South Carolina’s 60th.
- South Carolina and TCU were ranked first and fourth, respectively, in the NCAA NET rankings entering the bout.
- The game marked the first-ever meeting between TCU and South Carolina on the hardwood.
- TCU moved to 4-4 opposite SEC opposition since 2017-18.
- The Horned Frogs dipped to 7-2 in neutral site affairs in the Campbell era.
- TCU, ranked fourth nationally in assists per game, finished with a season-low 11.
- South Carolina made eight 3-pointers to TCU’s five. It marked the first time this season the Frogs did not finish with the advantage behind the arc.
- The Frogs 17 made field goals were their second-fewest in a game in the last two seasons.
- TCU allowed its opponent to score 75-or-more points for just the fourth time in 43 games under Campbell and first this season.
Individual Notes
- Van Lith has now led TCU in scoring in six consecutive games and seven times total.
- Van Lith notched her fifth 20-point performance of the season and 40th in her career.
- Van Lith tallied at least 20 points against a ranked foe for the 11th time.
- Van Lith has now scored in double figures in 31 of her 40 games vs. AP Top 25 teans.
- Van Lith has finished with at least six assists in eight of TCU’s 10 outings.
- Van Lith collected at least 20 points and five assists vs. a ranked team for the fourth time ever.
- Madison Conner moved to within four points of reaching 1,000 for her career, finishing with five in the loss.
- Conner collected a team-best six rebounds.
