No. 17 TCU Women’s Basketball closed its season-opening homestand on Wednesday night, dominating Tennessee State 122–39 after earlier decisive wins over Sam Houston and North Carolina A&T.  

The most recent result was not only impressive but historic. The Horned Frogs’ 83-point margin of victory is the largest in TCU men’s or women’s basketball history, and the 122 points mark the program’s second-highest total against a Division I opponent in nearly five decades. 

“In transition, this team is explosive,” head coach Mark Campbell said to open Wednesday’s postgame press conference. “If we can defend and rebound, there are just so many playmakers running around the court and so many skilled players. It’s been three games in a row now where the ball is zinging all over the place.”

The Frogs were efficient and balanced during the midweek rout, going 17-for-27 (63 percent) from beyond the arc. No team in the country shot better than 39 percent from three over the course of 2024–25. Guard Maddie Scherr sank all six of her three-point attempts and finished with a game-high 22 points — her most since Dec. 21, 2023 — after missing all of last season with injury. 

“You’re just starting to see what Maddie’s able to do. She’s always been one of the best guards in college basketball,” Campbell said, noting that the now graduate student Scherr was a McDonald’s All-American coming out of Kentucky’s Ryle High School. 

Forward Natalie Mazurek, who averaged four minutes per game last season (and never exceeded four points during her first 16 games as a Horned Frog), knocked down three three-pointers Wednesday — all within the final five and a half minutes of regulation — bringing the home crowd roaring to its feet each time. 

“Special shout out for Nat, who works her tail off every day, competes every day, has been a huge part of our program the last two years,” Campbell said, “so really cool for her to get some minutes and be able to stick shots.” 

Contributions off the bench will be key if the Frogs are to capture what would be an impressive road win over No. 10 NC State on Sunday afternoon. 

Fresh off a record-setting blowout, the Frogs set their sights on a tough road test against No. 10 NC State. Courtesy of TCU Athletics

The Wolfpack, a Final Four team two seasons ago, fell to the Frogs last year at Schollmaier Arena in a 76-73 thriller that vaulted TCU into the AP Top 25, setting the stage for an all-time year. 

With Sunday’s rematch in Raleigh all but promising to challenge the Frogs in new ways, here are three things to watch as TCU looks to build on a stellar start. 

Will off-court chemistry continue to show?

The Horned Frogs aren’t just among the nation’s top 10 in scoring this season — they also rank fourth in assists, averaging 24.7 per game. The team has had a different leading scorer in each of its three wins.

“We all get along so well. We hang out outside of basketball,” Mazurek said. “We enjoy spending time with each other, and I feel like that plays a part on the court.”

Natalie Mazurek knocked down three of the four shots she took from three-point range Wednesday night against Tennessee State. Courtesy of TCU Athletics

“You see us on the court, vibing and just having fun, laughing with each other,” echoed Olivia Miles after posting her first double-double of the season Wednesday. “That’s what it’s all about at the end of the day. It’s bigger than basketball. These girls and these relationships last forever. We just aren’t afraid to be ourselves.” 

NC State will be without guard Saniya Rivers, a two-time All-ACC defender who was the No. 8 overall pick in April’s WNBA draft by the Connecticut Sun. The Wolfpack haven’t been known for elite team defense under Texas native Wes Moore — in his 13 years as head coach, they’ve never ranked in the top 25 in scoring defense. But they do bring offensive firepower, with four players averaging double figures, including junior guard Zoe Brooks and junior forward Khamil Pierre, who each average a double-double through three games. 

Will early top-15 showdowns for NC State factor in?

The Wolfpack handled Maine on Tuesday night, 66-47, in their first contest of the season at James T. Valvano Arena — the storied venue named for the famous late coach.

NC State’s other two early-season matchups, against No. 12 Tennessee and No. 8 USC, were both decided by a single possession.

“They’re not going to be nervous,” Campbell said. “That program has been at such a high level for years. And so they’ve played in tons of big games. They’re going to be well prepared.”

TCU enters Sunday with three days’ rest and holds a trio of wins by 39-plus points. The Frogs don’t face another top-25 opponent until Jan. 7, when they visit No. 20 Oklahoma State.

How will the Frogs fare in the paint? 

TCU’s first loss last season, an 85-52 defeat to South Carolina at Dickies Arena in December, was largely decided in the paint. The Frogs were outrebounded 36-26 overall and 8-6 on the offensive glass. 

Looking ahead to Sunday, NC State’s Pierre — a 6-foot-2 transfer from Vanderbilt — has been a beast on the boards early in the season, stacking up 14, 18 and 10 rebounds over the Wolfpack’s first three games. 

The Frogs’ bigs have stepped up as well. Senior center Kennedy Basham recorded six blocks against North Carolina A&T on Nov. 6, tied for the second most of her career, while fellow transfer and sophomore center Clara Silva leads the team with 8.7 rebounds per game. 

How TCU’s frontcourt matches up with Pierre and NC State’s size and athleticism in the paint could be a decisive factor on Sunday. 

When the Frogs return to Schollmaier for a 6:30 p.m. tip against Tarleton State next Thursday, they’ll be aiming to extend their program record to 28 consecutive home victories.

— Corey Zapata-Smith