Sports

How TCU women’s basketball beat Louisville to advance to Sweet Sixteen for first time

By Steven Johnson

Updated March 23, 2025 10:42 PM

The TCU women’s basketball team is headed to the Sweet Sixteen after defeating Louisville, 85-70, on Sunday, March 23, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

The second-seeded Horned Frogs clinched the program’s first Sweet Sixteen berth in front of 7,494 fans at Schollmaier Arena, a program record for attendance. It was the 23rd straight win at home for the Horned Frogs.

“That crowd was incredible, that environment was incredible,” head coach Mark Campbell said. “That got this team over the hump, Schollmaier was electric for 40 minutes and we needed all of it.”

While many eyes were on Hailey Van Lith as she faced her former Louisville teammates, it was actually Agnes Emma-Nnopu who was the star of the game for the Horned Frogs.

Emma-Nnopu scored a season-high 23 points, the second most she’s scored in her college career, including 16 in the first half when the Horned Frogs pulled to a double-digit lead. Emma-Nnopu hit four of TCU’s 11 3s in the game.

“They were trying to speed us up and make the game frantic,” Campbell said. “The flip side of it, our shooters got let loose and we got a whole lot of good looks at home.”

TCU guard Agnes Emma-Nnopu (21) heads back to the bench during a timeout in the first half of the second round of the Women’s NCAA Championships Tournament game between TCU and Louisville at Schollmaier Arena in Fort Worth on Sunday, March 23, 2025. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com

Van Lith started the game picking her spots as seventh-seeded Louisville used a halfcourt trap to double team her and get the ball out of her hands. Van Lith settled in during the second half and finished with 16 points and 10 assists.

“They switched up their coverage a lot,” Van Lith said. “Sometimes they switched, sometimes they trapped, sometimes they just hedged. They showed us a lot. I was able to just find my shooters. Teams can keep doubling me and I’m going to keep giving it to my teammates because they’re putting points on the board.”

TCU appeared to be in for a close battle after Louisville started the game strong behind Jayda Curry. The former teammate of Van Lith scored 15 points in the first quarter as the Cardinals only trailed 20-17 entering the second. Curry scored a game-high 41 points.

However, the Horned Frogs played one of the best quarters in the second as TCU outscored Louisville 27-9 to build a 47-26 lead at halftime. The Horned Frogs led by double digits most of the second half.

Sedona Prince added 19 points and Donovyn Hunter added 18.

TCU will face No. 3 seed Notre Dame in the Sweet Sixteen in Birmingham. The Horned Frogs defeated the Fighting Irish 76-68 in November.

“I think it’s going to be a great game,” Van Lith said. “It’s going to be so good for women’s basketball, at this point in the season great players show up. Whoever is the toughest team is going to win.”