Preview: UC San Diego

3/18/2026 11:25:00 AM | Women's Basketball

Watch (ESPN)Listen Live Live Stats Tickets Game Notes

Horned Frogs host Tritons at 11 a.m. on Friday in first round of NCAA Tournament

FORT WORTH – No. 3 seed TCU (29-5, 15-3 Big 12) hosts No. 14 seed UC San Diego (24-8, 17-3 Big West) in the first round of the 2026 NCAA D1 Women's Basketball Championship at 11 a.m. on Friday at Schollmaier Arena.

The Horned Frogs are making their 11^th NCAA Tournament appearance and second in as many seasons. TCU repeated as undisputed Big 12 regular season champions and has won eight of its last nine games ahead of its opening round clash.

UC San Diego swept the Big West regular season and tournament titles en route to its second straight NCAA Tournament berth. The Tritons completed their four-year reclassification to NCAA Division I in 2024.

Friday's ballgame will air on ESPN.

The Game
Teams: #14 TCU (29-5 15-3 Big 12) vs. UC San Diego (24-8, 17-3 Big West)
Date: 11 a.m. CT on Friday, March 20
Location: Schollmaier Arena in Fort Worth, Texas

Game Coverage
Television
ESPN

Chuckie Kempf, Play-by-Play
Brooke Weisbrod, Analyst

Radio
KTCU 88.7 FM

Chris Blake, Play-by-Play

Opening Tip

TCU is making its 11th NCAA Tournament appearance.
The Horned Frogs notched back-to-back berths in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2010 with their selection as a No. 3 seed.
TCU is one of 10 teams in the bracket that earned hosting rights in 2025 and 2026.
TCU is the only Power Conference team in the field that repeated as an undisputed regular season champion.
TCU is 10-0 all-time in postseason contests inside Schollmaier Arena.
The Horned Frogs have won an NCAA-leading 42 straight home games.
Across TCU's unbeaten run at home, which began on Feb. 24, 2024, 33 of its wins have been by double digits, including both victories in the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
Friday's first round matchup is the first-ever meeting between TCU and UC San Diego.

Frog Focus

TCU is 10-4 vs. the NCAA Tournament field.
TCU has notched 13 victories over ranked teams over the last two seasons, tied with fellow No. 3 seed Duke for the sixth-most of any D1 program since 2024-25.
The Horned Frogs 29 victories on the season are the seventh-most of any team in college basketball. TCU will join No. 1 seeds UConn, UCLA, Texas and South Carolina, along with Fairleigh Dickinson, as one of only six programs to post back-to-back 30-win seasons should it triumph over the Tritons.
Selection Sunday was doubly memorable for TCU. The TCU men's basketball team received a No. 9 seed in the NCAA D1 Men's Basketball Championship. It is the first time in school history both programs have competed in March Madness in the same year.
Under head coach Mark Campbell, the 2024-25 TCU women's basketball team became the first in school history to reach the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament on its way to the Elite Eight.
Through Campbell's leadership, TCU has transformed into one of the winningest programs in the country over the last three seasons. Since Campbell's hire in March of 2023, TCU has tallied the seventh-most victories (84) of any Division I program. Campbell's win-loss percentage since 2023-24 (.800) ranks 10th among all head coaches.
Strictly looking at the last two seasons, TCU has tallied the fifth-most wins of any
Division I team (63) and ranks sixth among all teams in win-loss percentage (.875).
TCU's growing perception as a powerhouse in women's basketball is reflected in the national rankings. Campbell has led TCU to 20 top-10 marks and 35 top-15 placements. Prior to Campbell's arrival, TCU never ascended higher than 13th in the AP Top 25. In the three seasons preceding his hire, TCU went entirely unranked and competed to a 24-60 combined overall record.
Speaking of Campbell, he is one of only five coaches in the field that has spent five years or less as a head coach and notched at least three NCAA Tournament berths. The others are Kim Caldwell (Tennessee), Nicki Collen (Baylor), Shea Ralph (Vanderbilt) and Carly Thibault (Fairfield).
Campbell has won five conference regular season or tournament championships in as many seasons as a head coach. His 2023 Sacramento State squad swept the Big Sky regular season and tournament titles.
Nine members of TCU's roster have experienced March Madness at least once. The nine players have appeared in a combined 37 NCAA Tournament games; Taylor Bigby (10), Donovyn Hunter (8), Olivia Miles (6), Aaliyah Roberson (4), Maddie Scherr (3), Clara Silva (2), Natalie Mazurek (2), Marta Suarez (1) and Veronica Sheffey (1).
TCU Playing for Campbell, especially as his starting point guard, might as well be a cheat code for claiming conference player of the year honors at this point. TCU's Olivia Miles was crowned Big 12 Player of the Year and is the fourth one-and-done transfer point guard to be named a league's top player in Campbell's five seasons as a head coach. Hailey Van Lith was tabbed the Big 12's best in 2024-25 while Sacramento State's Lianna Tillman and Kahlaijah Dean won Big Sky Player of the Year in 2022 and 2023. All four players averaged better than 17 points and five assists per game in Campbell's offense.
Miles was also a unanimous choice for Big 12 Newcomer of the Year. TCU has swept Big 12 Player and Newcomer of the Year in consecutive seasons. No program has won both awards in back-to-back years.
Five of TCU's eight All-Big 12 first team honorees have come under Campbell's tutelage in the last calendar year. Marta Suarez joined Miles as a unanimous choice on the all-conference first team mantle. Van Lith, Sedona Prince and Madison Conner all garnered first team accolades in 2024-25.
TCU is allowing just 54.1 points per game at home in the Campbell era.
The Horned Frogs have held 9-of-18 guests at Schollmaier Arena this season to 50 points or less.
TCU has recorded 35 victories of at least 20 points over the last three years at home, including 12 thus far in 2025-26.
The Frogs' average margin of victory at home this season is 32.1 points.
TCU has averaged 10 threes per game at home over the last three seasons. The Horned Frogs have reached double figures in deep balls in 46 percent of their home games (27-59) since 2023-24.
TCU needs 28 threes to become only the eighth program to make 1,000 over a three-season span.
The Horned Frogs top the Power Conference ranks in total 3-pointers over the last three seasons (972) by a sizeable margin. The next closest Power Conference team to matching TCU's 3-point output is Utah at 929 threes. After that, it's Iowa with 895.
TCU's 306 threes this season are the eighth-most of any team.
Since 2023-24, only Richmond (996) has connected from distance more times than TCU. The Horned Frogs are one of only two programs ranking in the top-10 nationally since 2023-24 in 3-point field goals (2nd, 972), 3-point field goals per game (6th, 9.3) and 3-point percentage (7th, .366).
The Horned Frogs have reached double figures in deep balls on 10 occasions this season and in 44 games under Campbell, the fourth most of any team nationwide since 2023-24.
TCU is one of only two teams in the country with four players who have each made 50 threes in Marta Suarez (75), Olivia Miles (68), Donovyn Hunter (58) and Taylor Bigby (51).
Those four players are responsible for 81 percent (249-306) of TCU's 3-point offense.
TCU sports the fifth highest-scoring starting lineup in college basketball, as Miles, Suarez, Hunter, Bigby and Clara Silva average a combined 64 points per game. Only South Carolina, UCLA and Notre Dame and Oklahoma have higher-scoring starting fives.
In TCU's victories, its Hunter, Bigby and Silva contribute 28.2 points to TCU's final tally on average. Across TCU's five losses, that figure shrinks to 21.8 points per game.
Miles (19.6 ppg) and Suarez (17.2 ppg) are the country's fifth-highest scoring duo and one of only three pairs of teammates among NCAA Tournament teams averaging at least 17 points per game.
Miles and Suarez are also one the only duo nationwide averaging at least 15.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and two assists per game.
Collectively, Miles and Suarez make TCU the nation's lone team with two players who have tallied at least 550 points and 200 rebounds.
Miles and Suarez have both tallied at least 20 points and five rebounds in the same game on seven occasions, more than any pair of teammates in college basketball.
Miles and Suarez have teamed up to score at least 40 in 13 games, leading TCU to 11 victories when doing so.
Either Miles or Suarez has finished with a double-double or a triple-double in 15 games.
TCU has benefitted from a 20-point performance by Miles, Suarez or Hunter in 23 games. The three players have put 50 points combined on the board in nearly half of TCU's ballgames (16-34).
TCU ranks second only to top-seeded UConn in field goal percentage defense, holding teams to a 33.7 percent clip from the field on average.
Versus Power Conference foes, TCU has prevented 17-of-23 teams from eclipsing 40 percent shooting.
The Horned Frogs have held an NCAA-leading 14 teams below 30 percent shooting.
TCU has prevented 85 percent of its opponents from meeting their season scoring average in the Campbell era, including 30-of-34 this season.
The Frogs have limited 10 opponents to their lowest scoring outputs of the season at the time of tipoff, including six in Big 12 play; BYU (2x), Arizona State, Houston and No. 15 West Virginia (2x).
TCU, UConn and Texas are the only teams in the nation scoring at least 75 points per game while holding opponents to 56.5 points per game or less.
TCU has limited opponents to 50 points or less in 14 games, the second-most of any team in the nation. Only UConn has prevented its opponent from exceeding 50 points more times than TCU (18).
TCU allowed just 60.3 points per game in Big 12 action, the third-fewest among all Power Conference teams in league affairs. Duke (56.1 ppg) and UCLA (59 ppg) were the only teams with better scoring defenses than the Horned Frogs in conference play.
The Horned Frogs' length and rim protection has given opponents fits at the defensive end all year. TCU is the tallest team in the country, with an average height of 6'2 1/2". Eight of TCU's 14 players stand 6-2 or taller while 11 are at least 6-0.
Kennedy Basham (1.7 bpg) and Clara Silva (1.7 bpg) are arguably the top shot-blocking duo in the country. They rank second and third among all Big 12 players in blocks per game and are the only pair of teammates in college basketball who have each recorded 50 blocks this season.
Either Basham or Silva has finished with three-or-more blocks in 16 games.
TCU's 45 games with at least six blocks are the fifth-most of any D1 team over the last three seasons. Only South Carolina (66), USC (55), Kentucky (48) and Virginia (47) have more six-block performances in that span. The Horned Frogs have sent back at least six shots in 15 games in 2025-26.
The Frogs have recorded the third-most blocks of any team nationwide since 2023-24 with 556.
TCU has shot at least 43 percent from the floor in 24 of its wins. Conversely, only seven opposing teams have connected above a 36 percent clip from the field in any game.
TCU's scoring margin (+21.3) is the sixth-best in the country. 24 of its wins have been by double digits.

Individual Notables
Olivia Miles

Is the only player in the nation with at least 600 points, 200 rebounds, 200 assists and 50 steals.
Is on pace to become only the third player in NCAA history and first ths century to average at least 19 points, 6.5 rebounds, six assists and 1.5 steals per game while shooting at least 48 percent from the field.t 48
She is one of only two Division I players and the only Nancy Lieberman Award finalist averaging 19 points, six rebounds, six assists and 1.5 steals per game.
Is averaging career-bests in scoring average (19.6 ppg) and field goal percentage (.487).
Became one of only four players in NCAA history to record 2,000 career points, 800 assists and 800 rebounds in February.
Is one of only 14 D1 players who has scored 2,000 career points.
Leads all active players in career triple-doubles (11), assist per game average (6.4) and 15-point, five-assist game (53); also leads all D1 guards in career double-doubles (34).
Increased her scoring average to 21.2 points per game in conference play and finished as TCU's leading scorer 14 times.
Ranks in the top-15 nationally in total assists (5th, 216), assists per game (7th, 6.4) and total points (14th, 668).
Is 13 points away from breaking Hailey Van Lith's 2024-25 TCU single-season scoring record (680 points).
Her 216 assists are the most in a season in school history.
For her career, is averaging 10.3 points, 7.5 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game in the NCAA Tournament.
Notched one of her NCAA-leading 11 triple-doubles as a second-year freshman at Notre Dame in the first round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament; finished with 12 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists vs. UMass on March 19.
One of 15 players in NCAA history to post a triple-double in the Big Dance.
Joined Sandora Irvin ('04) as one of only two first team All-Americans in program history with her selection to The Athletic All-America first team.

Marta Suarez

Earned honorable mention All-American accolades from The Associated Press on Tuesday, becoming the sixth All-American in program history and fourth in the last two seasons alongside Miles, Van Lith and Prince.
Is averaging a team-high 20.9 points per night over TCU's last 10 games.
Has finished as TCU's leading scorer in seven of its last eight outings.
Averaging career bests in points per game (17.2), field goal percentage (.467) and 3-point field goal percentage (.373) along with 7.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists per outing.
Is one of only five players nationwide averaging at least 17 points, seven rebounds and two assists per game while shooting at least 45 percent from the field.
Has notched nine double-doubles.
Has finished with at least 15 points and five rebounds in 20 games.
Has drilled the most 3-pointers ever in a season by a Big 12 forward (75).
Ranks fourth in the country among players 6-3-or-taller in 3-point
percentage (.367).
Has connected at least three times from distance in 14 contests.

Donovyn Hunter

Is averaging 12.2 points per game and shooting 49 percent from the field at home this season.
Has reached the Elite Eight in both of her completed seasons; was the starting point guard as a freshman for a 2024-25 Oregon State squad that advanced to the quarterfinals
Averaged eight points and four rebounds per game in the Big Dance last season.
Scored 18 points and shot 6-6 from the field in the Frogs' 85-70 win over Louisville on March 23 in the second round in 2025; became the first TCU player to shoot 100 percent from the field with at least five makes.
For her career, is averaging 7.7 points, four rebounds and 3.3 assists per game in the NCAA Tournament.
Has scored in double figures in three of her eight career NCAA Tournament games; has also posted a 3-1 assist-to-turnover ratio on four occasions in the Big Dance.
Playing a career high 33.3 minutes per game.
Has nearly doubled her scoring average from the previous season; averaging 10.9 points per night compared to 5.8 in 2024-25.
Has scored in double figures in 19 games this season after tallying 10-plus in 19 games combined across her freshman and sophomore campaigns.
Sports a career 2.02 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Earned Big 12 All-Defensive Team and honorable mention All-Big 12 Team accolades.

Clara Silva

One of 14 players in college basketball and one of five underclassmen
averaging at least 8.8 points, seven rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 55 percent from the floor.
Eighteen games with at least eight rebounds.
Ranks 29th nationally in total blocks (57).

Taylor Bigby

Is averaging a career-high eight points per game as a starter and 8.7 points per game at home this season.
Has scored in double figures in 13 games this season; TCU is 12-1 this season 21-2 overall since 2024-25 when she finishes with 10-plus.
Eighteen games with at least three 3-pointers in her career.
Averaging 9.2 points per game vs. ranked teams as a starter.

A Win Over the Tritons Would…

Send he Horned Frogs to back-to-back 30-win seasons.
Stake TCU to its ninth all-time NCAA Tournament victory.
Make the Horned Frogs 6-1 in the Big Dance as the higher-seeded team.
Put TCU within a victory of running the table at Schollmaier Arena and posting 20 home wins in consecutive seasons for the first time ever.
Boost TCU's home record over the last three seasons to 56-4.
Improve TCU's record in postseason play in Schollmaier Arena to 11-0.
Augment TCU's all-time postseason record to 23-18 when including the WBIT and WNIT.
Lift TCU's record in games played following a break of six days or more over the last three seasons to 14-1.
Make TCU 9-0 in opening round games of tournament play - postseason, conference and multi-team event - under head coach Mark Campbell.

Series Notes: UC San Diego

Not only is Friday's ballgame the first-ever collision between TCU and UC San Diego on the hardwood, it's the first time the Horned Frogs and Tritons have faced off in any team sport. UC San Diego completed its four-year reclassification to NCAA Division I in 2024.
Despite holding Power Conference status since 2011-12, TCU holds a losing record vs. the Big West. The Horned Frogs are 6-9 all-time opposite conference affiliates. TCU holds victories over Hawaii (3x), UC Irvine (2x) and Long Beach State.
More than 12 years have passed since TCU last matched up with a team from the Big West. The Horned Frogs last tangled with the league on Dec. 30, 2014 in a home game against UC Santa Barbara inside Daniel-Meyer Coliseum. TCU won, 78-56.
The Horned Frogs and the Big West certainly are unfamiliar with one another. TCU head coach Mark Campbell, though, is well-acquainted with the league. He coached against Big West teams on 11 occasions across his two-year tenure as Sacramento State's head coach from 2023-25. Campbell holds a 7-4 career record against the conference, including undefeated marks vs. Cal State Bakersfield (2-0), Cal Poly (1-0), Cal State Fullerton and Cal State Northridge (1-0).
Giving grist to the nuances of Friday's tilt, not a single active TCU player or member of the Horned Frogs' coaching staff has faced UC San Diego since it moved to Division I.