Hailey Van Lith extraordinary individual display Sunday in the TCU Horned Frogs upset win over NC State Wolfpack ended a 16-year wait to re-enter the Associated Press top 25 womens basketball poll.
TCU coach Mark Campbell told AP about the remarkable turnaround hes helped engineer since taking the helm in 2023. It means a lot as we build this program, the 44-year-old said. Weve come a long way.
I inherited a program that was 1-17 (in the conference) and at rock bottom. Last years group laid an incredible foundation to springboard into this season.
Diminutive point guard Van Lith has been pivotal in that turnaround as she posted a career-first double-double in points (18) and assists (10) in the win over the Wolfpack, sparking adulation from Campbell in emotional, post-game scenes.
Did I get a double-double? Im gonna cry, she can be heard saying in a video posted on X, when she and Campbell were running the numbers.
Youve never done that in your life, Campbell said to her. Good job, kiddo. The playmaker, shes being unleashed. Good job. Youre just getting started, kiddo. Youve had 19 assists in your last two games. Built for it.
Van Lith is certainly one to watch this season (
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Van Lith transferred to TCU after a year at LSU, where she played with Angel Reese, who was quick to praise her former teammate on X when acknowledging her contributions. HVL [Hailey Van Lith], said Reese. Thats all ima say. Prior to LSU, Van Lith spent three seasons at Louisville.
Van Lith also scored 13 points and 12 rebounds in the teams 107-52 win over New Orleans earlier in the month. She has averaged 17.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 8 assists per game on average since moving to Texas Christian University.
Though Van Lith is only a recent arrival at TCU, as soon as she became available in the transfer portal, Campbell said his eyes lit up and he did all he could to bring her to his program. That was the piece that we needed to add to our team with what we had returning, and other pieces, he told reporters, via Sports Illustrated.
As you build a roster, its a puzzle. She fits that. We want to be a high tempo, fast pace, pick and roll team. And she ticks all those boxes a veteran whos played in the final four, and we needed that.
The most recent win was TCUs fourth in a row since a 61-68 slip-up at MS State, having since beaten HCU, New Orleans, and Texas State.