TCU Edges Washington in OT, Advances to Sweet 16

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Olivia Miles expressed her frustration and emotion as she fought to extend her college basketball career, particularly after a last-second shot failed to secure a win in regulation.

Despite her distress, the TCU playmaking point guard showcased resilience, helping lead the Horned Frogs to a 62-59 overtime victory over Washington on Sunday night. This win marks TCU's return to the Sweet 16 for the second year in a row.

In the game, Miles recorded 18 points and 10 rebounds, contributing crucial assists in the closing moments. "I owe it all to my teammates, to be honest. I was crashing out multiple times. I was angry, I was feeling all the emotions because I didn't want to go home," she said. "It'd be a disservice for me not to be resilient for them, and for myself."

Clara Silva was pivotal for TCU, scoring 16 points, which included the go-ahead layup to kick off overtime. Silva also made key baskets late in regulation, assisted by Miles, and secured eight rebounds. Taylor Bigby added 15 points for the third-seeded Horned Frogs (31-5).

Last season marked the first time TCU reached the Sweet 16, advancing to the Elite Eight. The team will head to Sacramento, where they will face the winner of Monday's matchup between second-seeded Iowa and 10th-seeded Virginia.

"That was just a gritty, resilient game," remarked TCU's third-year coach Mark Campbell. "We were down the whole time, just stayed in the fight. And we grinded that thing out, got it to overtime, and then we finally broke loose. ... Winning in March is so stinking hard."

With this victory, TCU has now achieved a remarkable 44-game home win streak, matching top seed Texas for the longest active streak in the NCAA since February 2024.

Sayvia Sellers led the No. 6 seed Washington (22-11) with 18 points, but her missed 3-pointer as time expired in overtime halted their hopes. The Huskies were seeking their first Sweet 16 appearance since 2017.

Following Silva's layup on the first possession of overtime, she made a steal, leading to Miles assisting Bigby for a 3-pointer. TCU scored the first seven points of the extra period, with Miles contributing a driving layup.

Washington's Avery Howell, who previously reached the Elite Eight with USC, contributed 14 points, while freshman Brynn McGaughy added 13. Miles, who had only four points at halftime after a triple-double in the first-round win over UC San Diego, had a chance to win the game in regulation but her 3-point attempt bounced off the rim.

"Oh yeah, I thought it was going in," Miles reflected on her buzzer-beater attempt. "My teammates had to calm me down. ... I practice that shot a lot."

TCU regained its first lead since the opening minutes of the second quarter when Miles assisted Silva for a layup that put the score at 51-49 with 1:39 left in regulation. Washington tied the game again when McGaughy made a layup with 14 seconds remaining.

The score was tied for the first time at 47 when Miles made an impressive overhead pass to Silva with 3:57 left. Miles concluded the game with eight assists. The Huskies had led 27-19 at halftime, limiting TCU to just six points during the second quarter, their lowest scoring quarter and half of the season.

Hannah Stines, who finished with 10 points, gave Washington a 16-15 lead with a layup just over seven minutes into the second quarter, a lead they maintained until TCU's late game surge.