The TCU Horned Frogs faced off against the Louisville Cardinals Sunday evening in Fort Worth, Texas, and if there is one thing we all learned, it's that it's exceedingly difficult to rattle Hailey Van Lith.
From the jump, it was clear that double-teaming Van Lith was key to Louisville's strategy, a decision that proved to be a mistake as Van Lith (who is known for her excellent passing skills) deftly managed to move the ball where it needed to be over and over again. To the confusion of some fans, double-teaming Van Lith was a theme throughout the night.
But, fortunately for Van Lith and TCU, so was getting buckets.
Hailey Van Lith earned a double-double against Louisville and Jeff Walz
Instead of backing down or curling up into a ball, Van Lith earned a double-double at home with 16 points and 10 assists as her former coach looked on. She previously went to one Final Four and two Elite Eights while at Louisville from 2021 to 2023.
Before this season, the Horned Frogs hadn't made it to the NCAA tournament in 15 years. They were 1-17 in conference games only two years ago, just before Mark Campbell took over as head coach and brought in 11 transfer students — many of whom have prior NCAA tournament experience.
The team's 85-70 continues TCU's winning streak at home. The team went 21-0 at Schollmaier Arena this year and tonight's game makes this the 24th game in a row they've won at home. TCU will next go up against Notre Dame in Birmingham, Alabama. The last time the teams played one another was Nov. 29 in the Cayman Islands, when TCU beat the Fighting Irish 76-68.
Louisville's Jayda Curry hit a career-high 41 points
Louisville guard Jayda Curry also boasted her own standout night with a career-high 41 points against the Horned Frogs. Curry, who transferred to Louisville two years ago, dominated the first quarter and scored more than half of her team's points on her own.
Curry kicked off the game with a steal and a lay-up off of a bad pass from Van Lith, an instant boost to the Cardinals. Teammate Olivia Cochran also ended up her career at Louisville with a 15 point game.
This NCAA performance could boost multiple players ahead of the Draft
Van Lith has continued to improve her draft odds all season, with many touting her as a likely second-round and potential first-round pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft. Her teammate Seonda Prince is also considered a potential first-round pick this year.
The game could also boost Curry's draft stock, especially if she can show she can continue to hit shots like she did tonight. Curry is no stranger to draft rumors, and at one time was considered a potential top-5 draft pick for this year.