Hailey Van Lith made her much-anticipated debut with the TCU women’s basketball team on Tuesday, delivering a standout performance in a matchup against Houston Christian. The talented guard showcased her skills, helping lead the Horned Frogs to an impressive victory.
Van Lith was one of just two TCU players to score in double figures during the game, alongside the team’s leading scorer, Sedona Price. Her move to Fort Worth this season came after a year with the LSU Tigers, where she contributed significantly to the team’s success.
Prior to LSU, Van Lith was a star at Louisville, building an impressive college basketball resume that led to an Olympic invite this past summer.
On Tuesday night, Van Lith’s talents were on full display, filling up the stat sheet in her first game as a Horned Frog. She notched 21 points, dished out seven assists, and grabbed five rebounds, shooting 43% from the field.
She also recorded a career-high six steals, making her presence felt on both ends of the court.
Following the game, Van Lith faced the media in a postgame press conference, where she was asked about her debut performance by a TCU reporter. However, she ended up needing to correct the reporter’s stats after he suggested that she had set multiple career bests during the game.
The reporter mentioned supposed career highs that Van Lith had achieved in her first game as a Horned Frog, but there was only one problem—most of his claims were incorrect. While her six steals were indeed a new personal best, Van Lith fell just short of tying her career mark in assists, and her point total was eight shy of her career-high.
When the reporter suggested that her 35 minutes played were also a career-high, Van Lith responded with a hint of sarcasm, “A career-high at TCU? Thirty-five minutes? That’s wrong. Maybe at LSU I didn’t play 35, but…” Van Lith clarified that she had played more than 35 minutes on at least 50 occasions during her time at LSU and Louisville, emphasizing her durability and determination to stay on the court.
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Van Lith’s ability to play extended minutes has been one of her trademarks throughout her college career, and she made it clear that she has consistently logged significant playing time across her previous teams. As a player who refuses to come off the court, Van Lith’s work ethic and endurance have been critical components of her success.
While the minutes played might not have been a career best, Van Lith did set a new personal record in one important category—steals. Her six-steal performance demonstrated her defensive prowess and relentless effort, adding to an all-around strong debut for TCU.
Overall, Van Lith’s first outing as a Horned Frog was a resounding success, with her leadership and playmaking abilities helping guide TCU to a big win.
She proved that she is ready to make an immediate impact on her new team, and her willingness to address the incorrect information from the reporter showed her attention to detail and desire to set the record straight.
Hailey Van Lith’s journey from Louisville to LSU and now to TCU has been marked by consistent excellence, and her debut performance indicates that she is poised to continue her impressive trajectory.
As the season progresses, Van Lith will undoubtedly be a key player for the Horned Frogs, and her dynamic play will be crucial to the team’s success moving forward.
