Horned Frogs to face Fairleigh Dickinson in first match
When TCU’s women’s basketball team hits the court in the first round of the NCAA Women’s Tournament, at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, March 21, it will mark the end of a two-year journey that included a call for walk-ons so they could field a team.
The first hint that this could be more than an ordinary season came when the Frogs beat No. 13 N.C. State 76-73; then defeated No. 3 Notre Dame 76-68. When it was over, TCU ended a historic season with a 28-3 record overall, 16-2 in Big 12 play, TCU with six ranked Big 12 wins and an 8-2 record against ranked opponents. The Frogs capped the season with their first Big 12 Championship and their first win over Baylor since 1990.
“We had an idea of what this team could look like, but what we have been able to do has exceeded the expectations of any idea that was pitched to me. We have set a new standard of what this team is capable of, and we are all enjoying it.”
Point Guard Hailey Van Lith
Head Coach Mike Campbell took over the Frogs for the 2023-24 season, after they had gone 8-23 in previous season. Mark Campbell was an assistant coach at Oregon (2014-21) and helped lead Oregon to three straigh Pac 12 regualsr season championships, two Pac 12 Tournament championship and the 2019 Final Four. From 2021-23, Campbell was at Sacremento State where he inherited a 3-22 team and took the to the NCAA Tournament two years later.
The Frogs started 14-0 before injuries forced them to forfeit games against Kansas State and Iowa State leading TCU to host an open walk-on tryout to fill out the roster in Campbells first year.
Campbell mined the transfer portal for talent: Sedona Prince leads the team in rebounds and blocks, Madison Conner is second in the nation in three-pointers. Van Lith is the team’s leading scorer and Big 12 player of the year. Taylor Bigby and Donovyn Hunter have also played a key roles.
“This whole journey is surreal,” Campbell said “The last two years and everything that has unfolded is surreal. You kind of feel like you’re living in the movie as this thing just keeps unfolding.”
TCU is a No. 2 seed and is hosting No. 15 seed Fairleigh Dickinson at the Ed and Rae Schollemaier arena.
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