WACO, Texas (AP) — TCU triumphed in a heart-stopping clash against Baylor, clinching a historic victory in the intense showdown for the Big 12 regular-season title. Sedona Prince shone with 16 points and an impressive 19 rebounds, leading 10th-ranked TCU to a hard-fought 51-48 win over No. 17 Baylor on Sunday, marking the first-ever winner-take-all finale in the conference’s 29-season history.
Hailey Van Lith contributed 14 crucial points as the Horned Frogs (28-3, 16-2 Big 12), guided by second-year coach Mark Campbell, concluded their most successful regular season to date. Prior to Campbell’s tenure, TCU had struggled in Big 12 play, boasting a combined record of 7-47 over the previous three seasons.
Aaronette Vonleh’s 17 points and 10 rebounds for Baylor (25-6, 15-3) were not enough to secure victory, as the 13-time Big 12 champions suffered their first defeat in nine games, tallying their lowest score of the season. Yaya Fielder also contributed 17 points, but missed a crucial 3-pointer in the dying moments.
Completing a remarkable journey since their last victory over Baylor 35 years ago, TCU swept their in-state rivals to claim their first conference title since their Mountain West days in 2010. The Bears’ unbeaten streak came to an end following TCU’s 80-75 victory in Fort Worth on Jan. 26.
Key Observations
TCU: With a significant improvement of nine conference wins from the previous season, TCU equaled Arkansas State of the Sun Belt in the largest leap this season. This represents the most notable season-to-season progression in the Big 12 since Nebraska’s 10-win surge from 2008-09 to 2009-10.
Baylor: Sarah Andrews broke the Big 12 record by playing in her 164th game, surpassing Suzie Snider Eppers’ previous school record of 163 games set in 1977. However, the fifth-year guard recorded a season-low one point, shooting 0-of-7 in 35 minutes.
Pivotal Moment
Van Lith’s clutch performance included sinking two crucial free throws with 1:49 remaining, extending TCU’s lead to 49-39. Although Baylor mounted a late 9-1 rally, Van Lith’s late free throw with nine seconds left sealed the victory.
Key Stat
Baylor struggled from the field, shooting a mere 27.7% (18 of 65) throughout the game.
Upcoming
Both Baylor and TCU advance to the women’s Big 12 tournament in Kansas City with double-byes, set to compete in the quarterfinal round on Friday.
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