Lady Frogs fall short in Elite Eight

TCU women's basketball season ends one game away from the Final Four

Mar. 31, 2026 at 5:05am

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For the second straight year, the TCU women's basketball season ended one game away from the Final Four, as the Horned Frogs fell 78-52 to South Carolina in the Elite Eight on Monday. TCU trailed only 49-41 entering the final quarter, but South Carolina went on a 12-0 run to take a 61-41 lead and pull away for the victory.

Why it matters

This was TCU's second straight appearance in the Elite Eight, showing the continued growth and success of the program under coach Mark Campbell. However, they were unable to break through to the Final Four, falling short against a perennial powerhouse in South Carolina.

The details

TCU forward Marta Suárez was injured late in the first half, limiting her effectiveness in the second half. South Carolina's depth and size in the frontcourt, led by Joyce Edwards, proved to be too much for TCU to overcome. The Gamecocks also got a big performance from freshman Agot Makeer, who scored 18 points to help offset the struggles of South Carolina's other guards.

  • TCU trailed only 49-41 entering the final quarter.
  • South Carolina went on a 12-0 run to take a 61-41 lead with 6:48 remaining.
  • TCU didn't score its first points in the fourth until the 5:55 mark.

The players

Mark Campbell

The head coach of the TCU women's basketball team.

Olivia Miles

The Big 12 Player of the Year and star guard for TCU, who finished with 18 points and 6 assists.

Raven Johnson

The SEC Defensive Player of the Year and starting point guard for South Carolina, who had 10 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists.

Marta Suárez

The 6-foot-3 forward for TCU who was injured late in the first half, limiting her effectiveness in the second half.

Joyce Edwards

The 6-foot-3 center for South Carolina who came in off the bench and had 24 points and 12 rebounds.

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What they’re saying

“I'm so proud of this team and this group. They took our program and our university on just another magical, special season. This one game will not define our season.”

— Mark Campbell, TCU Head Coach

“I knew it was gonna be physical. They're very long. They had multiple defenders on me, Raven started on me and then (Agot) Makeer played a lot on me for the rest of the game. I understand the territory and obviously both teams are competitive and want to win. I expected a physical and tough matchup.”

— Olivia Miles, TCU Guard

What’s next

South Carolina advances to its sixth straight Final Four and will face UConn in the national semifinals on April 3.

The takeaway

Despite the disappointing loss, TCU's women's basketball program continues to make strides, reaching the Elite Eight for the second straight year. The Horned Frogs showed they can compete with the nation's elite, but ultimately fell short against a more experienced and talented South Carolina squad.