Cavaliers’ season ends with loss to TCU in Sweet Sixteen
AP The 10th-seeded Virginia women’s basketball team saw its NCAA Tournament run end Saturday night with a 79-69 loss to third-seeded TCU in the Sacramento 4 Regional semifinal at Golden 1 Center. Virginia finished the season 22-12, while TCU advanced with a 32-5 record. Paris Clark led the Cavaliers with 20 points, along with three assists and two steals, closing her collegiate career with consecutive 20-point performances in the Round of 32 and Sweet Sixteen.
Kymora Johnson added 18 points, eight assists and four rebounds. TCU was powered by a dominant performance from Marta Suarez, who scored 33 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Olivia Miles contributed 28 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists.
The Horned Frogs shot 51. 7% from the field, including 38. 9% from 3-point range, and outrebounded Virginia 38-27.
Virginia relied on early 3-point shooting to build momentum in the first quarter. Trailing 8-2, the Cavaliers responded with a 16-4 run and connected on four of their final five attempts from beyond the arc to take a 21-17 lead. Suarez led all scorers with 18 first-half points, while Miles added 12 as TCU shot 58% in the opening half.
The Horned Frogs briefly took a late first-half lead, but Clark converted a three-point play to give Virginia a 36-35 advantage at the break. TCU seized control in the third quarter, opening the second half with a 17-4 run and outscoring Virginia 24-11 in the period. The Horned Frogs extended their lead to as many as 15 points before Johnson knocked down a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 59-47 entering the fourth quarter.