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Hailey Van Lith, the seasoned guard with a reputation for excellence on the court, made a powerful statement in her first appearance for TCU on Tuesday. Squaring off against Houston Christian, she showcased why her name is already well-known in collegiate basketball circles.
After transferring from LSU, where she was a key player last season following an earlier stint at Louisville, Van Lith's arrival in Fort Worth has been highly anticipated. The debut game saw her contributing heavily, recording 21 points, seven assists, and five rebounds while shooting 43% from the floor. However, it was her defensive prowess that stood out, with a career-high six steals.
The postgame press conference provided another highlight, but this time it was Van Lith's sharp response that captured attention. When a TCU reporter posed a question regarding supposed career milestones she set during her first game with the team, an inaccuracy in the question led to an immediate correction from the star player.
Van Lith hit back at the reporter
Van Lith responded, "A career-high at TCU?" before humorously clarifying the error. The reporter suggested her 35 minutes on the court were unprecedented, but Van Lith was quick to remind him that she had exceeded that number more than 50 times throughout her stints at LSU and Louisville. The guard's competitive drive means she's no stranger to long stints on the floor.
Despite the exchange, Van Lith did set a new mark in her debut: a career-best in steals, highlighting her aggressive defensive play. The guard's impressive start at TCU solidified her as a force for the Horned Frogs and showed that she's prepared to lead both on and off the court, even if it means correcting a stat slip in real-time.