Analysis: Three observations as No. 14 TCU women’s basketball faces adversity

After Sunday’s narrow loss to No. 18 Texas Tech, No. 14 TCU women’s basketball has officially reached the midway point of Big 12 play.

The Horned Frogs’ quest to defend their regular-season conference championship has proven to be a challenge. TCU lost just two games against Big 12 opponents last season, but the Horned Frogs (20-3, 8-2) have already fallen twice in league play this season in road games at Utah and Texas Tech despite having a deeper rotation than last year.

It’s always easier to be the hunter as opposed to the hunted, and the Horned Frogs have learned that the hard way. They are now the team that everybody has circled on the schedule.

Despite the two early setbacks, the Horned Frogs are still tied for first place in the Big 12 with No. 15 Baylor (19-4, 8-2) and are in prime position to host the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament at Schollmaier Arena for the second straight season.

But TCU must navigate a grueling close to the season with two rivalry games against the Bears, a rematch with No. 20 West Virginia and a matchup with Audi Crooks and Iowa State.

Ahead of Wednesday’s 6:30 p.m. home game vs. Houston, here are three keys for the Horned Frogs as they prepare for the final stretch of the regular season:

More magic from Olivia Miles

Despite a rough shooting performance against Texas Tech, graduate guard Olivia Miles has lived up to the hype this season, averaging a career-high 19.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists while shooting 49.7% from the field and 33.9% from 3. She hasn’t replaced Hailey Van Lith’s production from last season, she’s exceeded it and Miles should be on her way to earning All-Big 12 and All-American honors.

Miles has four triple-doubles this season and countless more games with double-digit rebounds or assists while also showing strides as a defender. As dominant as Miles has been, the Horned Frogs will need even more from her down the stretch.

Van Lith played her best basketball as the stakes increased, and she averaged over 20 points per game in TCU’s final 10 games that included the Big 12 and NCAA tournaments. Like Van Lith, Miles has plenty of postseason experience from reaching multiple Sweet 16s with Notre Dame, and she’ll need to lean on that knowledge to help the Horned Frogs defend their Big 12 title.

Miles has been elite, but does she have another level she can rise to?

Snapping Marta Suarez’s slump

One reason TCU hasn’t looked as dominant since the start of the New Year is the play of graduate forward Marta Suarez. During the non-conference schedule, Suarez was one of the biggest surprises in the country, shooting up multiple WNBA mock drafts with her versatility as a scorer at the power forward position.

At one point Miles and Suarez were averaging over 20 points per game, reminding fans of Van Lith and Sedona Prince’s dominance as a duo.

But after scoring 12 points in TCU’s win over BYU on Dec. 30, Suarez saw her efficiency plummet as the Horned Frogs moved deeper into league play. Suarez had eight straight games shooting below 40% and three games where she was held to single digits, including the 71-69 loss to Ohio State on Jan. 19 in New Jersey.

But it hasn’t been all bad news for TCU’s Swiss Army knife.

Suarez hit the game-winner against West Virginia on Jan. 14 and also had her first game shooting over 50% against Texas Tech as she scored 15 points and grabbed 12 rebounds while shooting 54% from the field. At her best, Suarez is a matchup nightmare with her size, shooting and ability to put the ball on the floor and get to her spots. When she’s not on her game, TCU’s offense in the half-court isn’t the same.

TCU needs Suarez to find her confidence and consistency quickly before the schedule begins to get tougher.

The return of Maddie Scherr

The Horned Frogs received a boost with the return of graduate guard Maddie Scherr to the lineup against the Red Raiders. Scherr missed three games with a back injury, and the Horned Frogs missed her on the defensive end against Ohio State and Kansas. The Horned Frogs have only allowed three opponents to score over 70 points this season, and two of those came with Scherr on the sideline.

Scherr’s numbers — 5.6 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists — won’t jump off the page, but her impact goes beyond the raw numbers. Scherr’s been a knockdown 3-point shooter, making 38.9% this season. Defensively, she forms a strong duo with junior guard Donovyn Hunter that can challenge just about any guard in the country.

She also serves as another ball handler, which can ease the burden on Miles to constantly initiate everything for TCU in the half-court. Scherr makes TCU a more complete and deeper team, and her style of play is just what the Horned Frogs need with March right around the corner.