FORT WORTH, Texas — Olivia Miles registered 18 points and 10 rebounds, also contributing crucial assists in the game’s final stages, as third-seeded TCU triumphed over 6-seed Washington in a 62-59 overtime clash on Sunday night. This hard-fought win propelled the Horned Frogs to the Sweet 16 of the women’s NCAA tournament for the second consecutive year.
Clara Silva contributed 16 points, notably sinking the decisive layup to commence the extra period, following her equalizing and tiebreaking baskets late in regulation, both facilitated by passes from Miles. Taylor Bigby amassed 15 points for TCU (31-5).
Prior to the previous season, when they advanced to the Elite Eight, the Horned Frogs had not reached the Sweet 16. Now, the Big 12 regular-season champions are bound for Sacramento, where they are slated to compete Saturday night against either second-seeded Iowa or 10th-seeded Virginia. That second-round game for Iowa and Virginia is scheduled for Monday night in Iowa City.
TCU extended its uninterrupted home game winning streak to 44 victories since February 2024, thereby equaling top seed Texas for the NCAA’s most enduring active sequence.
Sayvia Sellers garnered 18 points for Washington (22-11), though her attempt at a game-tying 3-pointer was unsuccessful as time expired in the extra period.
The Huskies were seeking to reach their inaugural Sweet 16 appearance since Kelsey Plum guided them to that stage in 2017. Avery Howell, who last season as a freshman at USC advanced to the Elite Eight, contributed 14 points, while freshman Brynn McGaughy chipped in with 13.
Miles, who had managed merely four points by halftime, had an opportunity to secure victory in regulation, but her 3-point attempt at the buzzer bounced off the back of the rim.
With 1:39 remaining in regulation, TCU assumed the lead for the first time since the initial moments of the second quarter, as Miles assisted Silva for a layup making the score 51-49. However, Washington drew level when freshman Brynn McGaughy scored just before the shot clock expired, with 14 seconds left.
Miles delivered a clever overhead pass to Silva with 3:57 remaining, resulting in the game being level for the inaugural time at 47 points apiece.
Washington was ahead 27-19 at halftime, having limited the Frogs to merely six points in the second quarter. This marked TCU’s poorest offensive quarter and half this season, as they converted only 2 of their last 16 shot attempts heading into the interval.
Hannah Stines, who concluded the game with 10 points, sank a layup with just over 7 minutes remaining in the second quarter, which propelled the Huskies into a 16-15 lead. They maintained their advantage until TCU’s closing rally. Subsequently, after Miles suffered another miss, Howell drained a three-pointer from the right wing.