Women’s Basketball: No. 11 TCU outlasts Colorado in defensive battle

Horned Frogs ring in 2025 with a conference victory

11th-ranked TCU Women’s Basketball celebrated the New Year with a win over Colorado (10-3, 1-1 Big 12) in Schollmaier Arena, taking down the Buffaloes 63-50 on Wednesday night. It was the Horned Frogs’ lowest-scoring output in a win this season, shooting just 40% from the field and committing 13 turnovers. However, TCU brought its defense to the floor as well, blocking seven shots and forcing 20 turnovers, including eight steals. Sedona Prince led the way for the Frogs on both ends of the court, securing her sixth double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds while adding 3 blocks and 4 steals defensively. Hailey Van Lith also poured in 14 points despite battling food poisoning all week.

Colorado put its physical style of play on display right away against the Frogs, as the Buffs’ stout defense was allowing nothing easy. TCU shot just 28.6% from the field in the first quarter and Sedona Prince was held off the score sheet through the game’s opening ten minutes for the the second-straight game. Agnes Emma-Nnopu would answer the physicality with a strong fast break bucket, drawing the foul and making the and-one free throw. Despite the challenging quarter, TCU found success from long range, getting three-balls to go from Madison Conner and Aaliyah Roberson to carry only a one-point deficit into the first break.

Colorado continued to frustrate the Frogs in the 2nd quarter, forcing an uncharacteristic three turnovers from Van Lith during the period, while no Frog made more than one field goal. TCU turned in a gem defensively as well, holding the Buffs to just 33% shooting while forcing four turnovers and committing zero fouls. A perfect 4-4 from the free throw line, plus two made three-pointers, had the Frogs on a 16-3 run in the quarter leading to a narrow six-point TCU advantage at halftime.

After the break it was the Sedona Prince show as the TCU center simply took over the game, grabbing nine rebounds, absorbing punishment in the paint to draw fouls, taking three steals and scoring 12 second half points. On a night where TCU had more turnovers than assists, got outrebounded, and the nation’s leading three-point shooter was just 1-5 from beyond the arc, TCU was able to do enough to control this game late. While the physical play was effective at slowing TCU, it also got several Buffaloes into early foul trouble, with two starters eventually fouling out of the game. TCU was able to take advantage as that defense had to soften a bit in the second half. The Frogs suffered a brutal stretch from the close of the third quarter through over five minutes of the fourth quarter as the Buffaloes went on an 11-2 run, cutting TCU’s comfortable 14 point lead down to just five. TCU answered with consecutive buckets from Bigby, Conner, and Van Lith to shut the door on the comeback attempt, ultimately delivering another double-digit victory.

TCU improved to 2-0 in conference play and 14-1 overall this season. TCU will be back in Schollmaier Arena on Saturday January 4 to take on the Cincinnati Bearcats (9-3, 1-1 Big 12).