FORT WORTH, Texas — Hailey Van Lith, Sedona Prince, and Madison Conner, seasoned players in the NCAA Tournament, have now joined forces at TCU. Their collaboration bore fruit as they led the Horned Frogs to a victory on their home court during March Madness.
Madison Conner showcased her shooting prowess, scoring 23 points, including four 3-pointers. Meanwhile, Sedona Prince managed to contribute 16 points and secure 10 rebounds despite dealing with early foul trouble. The second-seeded Horned Frogs triumphed over Fairleigh Dickinson with a score of 73-51. This marked a significant milestone, being TCU’s first home game in the women’s NCAA Tournament and its first tournament victory in 15 years.
Reflecting on the team’s performance, Van Lith, who has experienced deep tournament runs with Louisville and LSU, remarked on the positive energy and confidence in their squad. “I’ve had a good sense of what it feels like when a team is on a promising run,” she noted. Van Lith also contributed 13 points and provided seven assists, helping maintain the Big 12 champion Horned Frogs’ winning streak, now at 11 games.
For the 15th-seeded Fairleigh Dickinson, Teneisia Brown scored 18 points and Ava Renninger added 12. The team, champions of the Northeast Conference, was experiencing the NCAA Tournament for the first time, bolstered by a 22-game winning streak. Despite being overpowered, FDU’s coach, Stephanie Gaitley, expressed immense pride in her team’s achievements throughout the season.
The early stages of the game saw a dynamic exchange in lead changes until TCU secured an advantage with Conner’s three-pointer. Conner, who often operates under the shadow of her high-profile teammates, delivered 10 points during the second quarter. Sitting alongside Van Lith and Prince postgame, Conner emphasized the team’s unity and lack of ego as crucial to their successful season.
TCU extended its lead shortly after halftime when Conner, taking a pass from Prince, made a three-pointer to create a 40-29 advantage. Fairleigh Dickinson’s most significant lead occurred with Prince benched due to fouls, but the Horned Frogs quickly reclaimed control.
Throughout the game, strategic plays, such as charges taken by 5-6 guard Abaigeal Babore against taller opponents, showcased the determination of TCU’s players to capitalize defensively. Babore embraced her role, understanding its critical contribution to team success.
The victory extended TCU’s home winning streak to 23 games, marking their first NCAA triumph since 2006. The team, which has seen substantial growth since Mark Campbell’s appointment as coach, looks forward to making further headway in the tournament.
Up next, TCU will face Louisville at home, a team familiar to Van Lith from her previous stints. The matchup follows Louisville’s narrow win over Nebraska, setting the stage for another competitive showdown in the tournament’s next round.