Women’s Basketball: Second half surge propels No. 11 TCU past Brown in non-conference finale

Horned Frogs improve to 13-1 ahead of full Big 12 slate

In its last game of 2024 before the calendar flips to the new year and the schedule flips fully into Big 12 Conference play, 11th-ranked TCU Women’s Basketball (13-1; 1-0 Big 12) closed its non-conference slate with another lopsided victory, defeating the Brown Bears (6-7; 0-0 Ivy) 79-47 on Sunday afternoon. Carrying a single-digit advantage into halftime, the Horned Frogs turned on the jets in the second half, shooting 43% from beyond the arc, dominating the rebounding battle, and shutting down the Brown offense. TCU was led again by Hailey Van Lith filling the stat sheet with 17 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals.

Brown presented a tough challenge for the Horned Frogs in the first half, bringing an active and physical defensive effort that neutralized TCU’s typical high-scoring efforts . The Bears took advantage on the offensive end, draining four first quarter three-pointers, carrying a lead throughout the period before a Donovyn Hunter bucket closed the quarter to take a narrow margin into the break, which Brown would never erase the rest of the way. Reigning National Player of the Week Madison Conner shot 50% from long range on the game and began to heat up in the second quarter, draining a pair of threes towards the end of the half to keep the Bears at arms length headed into the break.

TCU’s size and shot-making prowess took over in the second half where the Horned Frogs won the rebounding battle 25-11, scoring 22 points in the paint, equaling Brown’s total second half points. The half opened with a Taylor Bigby 3-ball to give her double-digit points for the fifth time this season. After being shut out in the first half, Sedona Prince got rolling after the break, shooting 67% from the field. Prince stood six inches taller than the tallest Bear on the court and was able to use that size to strong effect with three blocks and seven rebounds.

TCU held the Bears to zero second-chance points in the second half, allowing only two Brown offensive rebounds on 17 missed shots. Agnes Emma-Nnopu was again excellent in the start, a magnet for missed shots she matched a career-high 14 rebounds while shooting 100% from the field. On a day where the Frogs were hassled on the offensive end and facing a creative & talented offense, TCU was still able to earn another 30+ point victory to close non-conference play with only a single loss to No. 2 South Carolina. As local support continues to grow for the program over 3,000 TCU fans filled Schollmaier Arena despite students not being on campus and the band not on hand, marking the third-most for a home game this season, behind only the Field Trip game vs. Incarnate Word and the marquee win over the ranked NC State Wolfpack.

TCU will get back to Big 12 play in Schollmaier Arena on New Years Day vs. the Colorado Buffaloes at 1:00 PM, broadcast on ESPN+.