Women’s Basketball: No. 3 South Carolina delivers No. 9 TCU first loss of season

Horned Frogs fall to defending champion Gamecocks to dropping first non-conference game since 2022

No. 9 TCU Women’s Basketball got a glimpse at the summit of its sport on Sunday. Although the Horned Frogs have already reached never before seen heights there is still a significant distance to go if it desires to reach the pinnacle. TCU (9-1) sought out big challenges for its non-conference slate, and there is no greater test in the sport today than the South Carolina Gamecocks (9-1), the defending National Champions have lost just one of its previous 47 games. In the neutral-site showcase at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, the No. 3 Gamecocks trounced the challengers from TCU, 85-52. TCU guard Hailey Van Lith led all players with 21 points and six assists. South Carolina had four players score in double-digits, including 20 points off the bench from MiLaysia Fulwiley

TCU held the lead through the opening minutes of the game, getting the scoring started with a Taylor Bigby three-ball followed by made baskets by Sedona Prince and Donovyn Hunter. However South Carolina’s scoring prowess began to show, making 50% of its shots during the opening frame, as did its dominance on the glass, outrebounding TCU 10-4. TCU entered the game with one of the lowest turnover rates nationally, but gave the ball away four times during the first period, including one that resulted in a highlight reel exclamation point from the Gamecocks, a breakaway dunk from Ashlyn Watkins

The slam set the tope for the next two quarters as the reigning Champions put the game well out of reach, outscoring TCU 44-18 in the middle two periods. Shots that have been falling for the Frogs all season were not getting friendly rolls as the SC defense put a challenge on every attempt, both at the rim and on perimeter jumpers, leading to a season-low 33% field goal percentage for the Frogs for the game. Meanwhile South Carolina had by far the best shooting percentage from the field, from three-point range, and from the free throw line that TCU has allowed all season. Despite forcing 12 turnovers in the game, the Horned Frogs were unable to turn those into instant offense, credited with just 1 fast break point in the game. The Horned Frogs kept the fight through the 4th quarter, scoring 20 in the final frame, getting 10 points from Van Lith.

While certainly not the desired result for the Horned Frogs, the game served as valuable experience and a measuring stick as to how far the program has come and how much there still is to go on the journey. TCU will be back in action on Sunday December 15 at 2:00 PM in Schollmaier Arena to take on the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (5-3), broadcast on ESPN+.