At the midway point of Big 12 play, the TCU women’s basketball team finds itself in a familiar position - near the top of the standings - but the path back to a conference title has been anything but easy. Sunday’s narrow loss to No.
18 Texas Tech marked the Horned Frogs’ second defeat in league play, matching their total from all of last season. That’s the reality of being the defending champs: every team circles you on the calendar.
TCU, currently 20-3 overall and 8-2 in the Big 12, is still tied for first with No. 15 Baylor.
But the road ahead is no cakewalk. The Horned Frogs still have two rivalry games against Baylor, a rematch with No.
20 West Virginia, and a date with Iowa State and standout center Audi Crooks. The margin for error is thin, and the pressure is mounting.
If TCU wants to stay on track to host NCAA Tournament games at Schollmaier Arena for the second straight year, they’ll need to tighten the screws in three key areas - starting with their star guard, a versatile forward trying to find her rhythm, and a veteran defender who just made her return.
Olivia Miles: The Engine That Drives TCU
Let’s start with the obvious: Olivia Miles has been sensational. Even with a tough shooting night against Texas Tech, the graduate guard is putting up career-best numbers - 19.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game - while shooting nearly 50% from the field. She’s not just filling the stat sheet; she’s setting the tone for everything TCU does on both ends of the floor.
It’s not hyperbole to say she’s exceeded expectations in replacing Hailey Van Lith. In fact, she’s surpassed Van Lith’s production from last year.
With four triple-doubles already this season, Miles is doing things that few guards in the country can match. And she’s doing it with a level of poise that comes from deep postseason experience, thanks to her time at Notre Dame and multiple Sweet 16 appearances.
But here’s the thing: as good as she’s been, TCU might need even more from her down the stretch. Van Lith elevated her game in the final 10 contests last season, averaging over 20 points per game during the Big 12 and NCAA tournaments.
Miles has the tools - the vision, the handle, the scoring touch - to do the same. The question now is whether she can find yet another gear as the games get bigger.
Marta Suarez: Searching for Consistency
Early in the season, Marta Suarez looked like one of the breakout stars in college basketball. The graduate forward was a matchup nightmare - a stretch-four who could score at all three levels, rebound, and facilitate. She was climbing WNBA draft boards and forming a dynamic one-two punch with Miles that echoed the dominance of Van Lith and Sedona Prince from a year ago.
But since the calendar flipped to January, Suarez has hit a rough patch.
After a 12-point outing in a win over BYU on Dec. 30, her shooting efficiency took a nosedive. She went eight straight games shooting under 40% and was held to single digits three times, including a frustrating 71-69 loss to Ohio State. For a player who was once averaging over 20 points per game, that’s a significant dip.
Still, there are signs she’s turning the corner. Suarez delivered a strong performance against Texas Tech, scoring 15 points on 54% shooting and pulling down 12 rebounds. And let’s not forget - she hit the game-winner against West Virginia on Jan. 14, showing she can still deliver in the clutch.
When Suarez is locked in, she stretches defenses, opens up space for Miles, and gives TCU a half-court scoring option that few teams can match. But when she’s off, the offense tends to stagnate. If the Horned Frogs are going to survive the gauntlet that awaits them, Suarez regaining her early-season form could be the difference between a deep tournament run and an early exit.
Maddie Scherr: The Glue Player Returns
While Miles and Suarez grab the headlines, Maddie Scherr’s return to the lineup might be one of the most important developments for TCU as it enters the back half of the season.
The graduate guard missed three games with a back injury, and her absence was felt - especially on the defensive end. Of the three times TCU has allowed more than 70 points this year, two came while Scherr was sidelined. She may not light up the scoreboard - averaging 5.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.1 assists - but her impact goes far beyond the box score.
Scherr is shooting nearly 39% from three and brings a level of defensive tenacity that pairs perfectly with junior guard Donovyn Hunter. Together, they form a backcourt duo that can disrupt even the most polished opposing guards. Her return also gives Miles some much-needed relief as a secondary ball handler, allowing TCU to diversify its offensive sets and keep defenses guessing.
In a conference race this tight, depth and balance matter. Scherr brings both.
She doesn’t need to be a star - she just needs to be steady. And that’s exactly what she’s been throughout her career.
As the Horned Frogs prepare to host Houston on Wednesday night, they find themselves in a familiar spot - contending for a Big 12 title with postseason aspirations in full view. But the path to the finish line is lined with landmines.
TCU has the talent, the experience, and the coaching to navigate it. Whether they do will depend on whether Miles can elevate her already elite game, whether Suarez can find her rhythm again, and whether Scherr can stay healthy and steady the ship.
The next few weeks will tell us everything we need to know about this team. One thing’s for sure - the Horned Frogs aren’t sneaking up on anyone this year.
They’re the hunted now. Let’s see how they respond.