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In the biggest moment of the season for TCU women’s basketball, Olivia Miles and Marta Suarez reminded the country why the No. 17-ranked Horned Frogs should still be considered a Final Four contender.
TCU blew out No. 12 Baylor, which sat in first place in the Big 12, on Thursday behind a combined 67 points from Miles and Suarez.
Miles scored a career-high 40 points and knocked down 10 3-pointers in the 83-67 victory, while Suarez scored a season-high 27 while grabbing six rebounds and adding three 3s. TCU (22-4, 10-3) needed its two All-American talents to play like their best to stay in the thick of the Big 12 race, and the two stars responded emphatically.
“These two put on one of the most special performances that I’ve got to be a part of in my 20 years of coaching,” TCU coach Mark Campbell said.
Miles’ performance was all about confidence and self-belief. Baylor’s game plan was to intentionally make the senior guard a scorer.
The belief by Bears coach Nicki Collen was that TCU was at its best when Miles was orchestrating the offense and getting everyone involved with her advanced ability as a passer.
Collen’s gamble paid off early, as the Bears went underneath every pick-and-roll, almost daring Miles to take long-distance jumpers instead of allowing her to get downhill.
Miles made just two of her first eight 3s in the first half, and Baylor only trailed 36-32 at halftime. Many players would’ve eased up on their attempts after struggling, but Miles responded in the third quarter.
TCU scored 25 points in the third and Miles scored 23 of them, including knocking down seven 3-pointers. As the Bears continued to play drop coverage, Miles began to feast as her confidence grew with every made basket. One of her last field goals was a step-back 3-pointer off the dribble that only a handful of players in the country are capable of making.
“She was making shots. She went out there and got hot,” Baylor guard Taliah Scott said. “We didn’t make any adjustments on our end, and she was able to go out there and score. She was a tough assignment. She’s one of the best guards in the country, and she showed us why she’s one of the best guards in the country.”
By the time Miles’ avalanche of 3s was complete, TCU grew it lead to 61-48, and the Bears wouldn’t get within single digits in the fourth quarter.
Olivia Miles takes what defense gives her
When asked if she was surprised by Baylor’s strategy, Miles let out a small chuckle.
“That’s what every team has been doing. That’s the scout on me,” Miles said. “I’m just trusting in my work. I know I can score the ball. It’s not something I want to do per se at first glance, but if I have to do something for my team I’m going to do it, and I was just taking what the defense was giving to me.
“I know coach was probably quaking in his boots when he saw 20 3s taken because he tells me to never settle, but that’s truly what the defense was giving me, and I wasn’t going to force it inside if I didn’t have to.”
Miles had the most points and 3s in a Big 12 game in program history, and the 40 points were also the third-most scored by a Horned Frog in program history.
It’s the type of performance Miles didn’t think she was capable of having at Notre Dame.
“If you would’ve told me I would score 40 in a game last year I would’ve laughed at you,” Miles said. “I didn’t have that confidence. I didn’t have that self-belief. What a special win for our team.”
Marta Suarez leaves slump in the past
While Miles is sure to take up most of the headlines with her historic outing, the impact of Suarez can’t be overlooked.
After a shaky January when she averaged just 10.3 points per game, Suarez has rebounded and returned to her early season form with three straight 20-plus-point games.
It was Suarez who helped carry the load while Miles’ 3s weren’t falling in the first half. Suarez hit a 3-pointer in the first half, but did most of her damage right in front of the basket.
“Suarez was the one that really hurt us in the first half,” Collen said.
Her strength and her shot fake were equally effective in creating the space she needed to finish at the rim. Even when Suarez was doubled in the post, she was able to navigate through the traps and still pound the interior of the Baylor defense.
“It was just patience, just slowing down and understanding that I’m strong,” Suarez said. “I can really hurt teams down there, and with the shooters that we have and how open the space is, if you double-team me somebody else is going to score.”
As Baylor finally began to switch its defensive strategy on Miles in the fourth quarter, Suarez stepped up and helped deliver the knockout blow as she scored 10 points in the final quarter, making all four of her shots.
The chemistry the two have is impressive considering it’s their first year in Fort Worth. For Suarez it’s been a joy to play with one of the best facilitators in the country, while Miles is equally happy to have such a skilled forward to lean on.
“We’re having a lot of fun, I think especially because we’re both very flashy. We like versatility,” Suarez said. “You should have seen us in the summer. Now we’re a little tame for obvious reasons, but it’s just so much fun. We both love the game and love competing. We’ll go at each other. As the games are running down, I think about how I’m going to miss practice [with Miles].”
Miles was also quick to offer the same type of praise for Suarez.
“I have such profound respect for Marta and the way she approaches the game,” Miles said. “I truly have not seen anyone else as committed to her craft and what she does. She’s an example for me and someone I truly look up to.”
TCU’s follow-up to last season’s Elite Eight run has included more adversity than anticipated with injuries and narrow losses at the buzzer.
But if there was any doubt that the Horned Frogs could match or even exceed last year’s run, Suarez and Miles reminded the country why TCU should still be considered a contender with March around the corner.
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Steven Johnson
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