BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Hailey Van Lith scored 12 of her 26 factors within the fourth quarter to assist second-seeded TCU beat No. 3 seed Notre Dame 71-62 on Saturday within the Candy 16 of the ladies’s NCAA Match.
Sedona Prince added 21 factors for the Horned Frogs (34-3), who superior to the Elite Eight for the primary time at school historical past. Subsequent up is Texas or Tennessee on Monday evening.
With the sport tied at 52 early within the fourth, Van Lith took over. She scored 5 of the following six factors for TCU to present the staff the lead. Each run that the Combating Irish made, Van Lith and the Horned Frogs had a solution.
Van Lith, who began her profession at Louisville earlier than transferring to LSU final season after which TCU this previous 12 months, is on her technique to a regional last for the fifth time.
Notre Dame (28-6) was attempting to succeed in the Elite Eight for the primary time since 2019.
Liatu King scored 17 factors for the Irish. Hannah Hidalgo had 15 and Olivia Miles completed with 10. However the star backcourt was a mixed 6-for-29 from the sector.
Notre Dame received off to a gradual begin earlier than rallying for a 35-33 halftime lead. Neither staff led by greater than 4 factors within the second quarter.
The groups met in November in a Thanksgiving event within the Cayman Islands, and the Horned Frogs got here away with a victory after rallying from a 14-point deficit. The Irish have been lacking Maddy Westbeld and Liza Karlen for that sport.
Notre Dame: The Irish might want to discover replacements for Sonia Citron, Westbeld and most definitely Miles subsequent season after falling brief this 12 months.
TCU: The Horned Frogs proceed the most effective season at school historical past with the oldest staff within the event. Their common age is 22.5 years outdated. There are solely two gamers on the roster beneath 21.
TCU made 22 of 24 free throws, together with all 16 within the second half.
Notre Dame appeared to blow the sport open early within the third quarter, scoring 9 straight factors. Miles was an enormous a part of the run. She went behind her again whereas dribbling up the court docket in transition earlier than throwing a no-look go for a layup. Then she hit a 3-pointer earlier than waving her arms in celebration as she made her method down the court docket.
TCU wasn’t rattled although. Van Lith made a few key defensive performs to maintain the Horned Frogs within the sport, they usually trailed 52-50 going into the fourth.
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