TCU Horned Frogs star guard Hailey Van Lith has been dubbed by reporters as “Miss March,” and head coach Mark Campbell has something to say about the nickname given to their star player.
In a statement, TCU Horned Frogs head coach Mark Campbell gave his honest opinion on the new nickname given to their star guard, Hailey Van Lith.
“‘Miss March’ is, I think, deserved and earned in this era of the portal and the modern-day college athlete,” Campbell said. “Hailey Van Lith leading three schools five times to the Elite Eight—’Miss March’, yes. She gets that title, and she can own it.”
“The kid’s competitive spirit, DNA, and the heart inside her chest are unmatched.”
Hailey Van Lith earned the nickname “Miss March” for her extraordinary performances during the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament, where she consistently excelled under the spotlight. As a dynamic guard, Van Lith made history by becoming the first player in college basketball to reach the Elite Eight five times, doing so with three different teams—Louisville, LSU, and TCU.
Hailey Van Lith’s outstanding performances, especially her 26 points and nine rebounds in TCU’s Sweet 16 win against Notre Dame, earned praise from fans and analysts alike. Her leadership and clutch performances garnered respect from all. TCU head coach Mark Campbell commended her competitive spirit and heart, emphasizing her impact beyond scoring, including her defensive prowess and motivational role.
However, despite her individual feats and the team’s overall effort, the TCU Horned Frogs failed to make the Final Four, as they lost their Elite Eight match against Texas.
The Horned Frogs struggled offensively against the Longhorns, shooting just 3-of-16 from three-point range and committing 21 turnovers. Van Lith scored 17 points in the game but faced relentless defensive pressure, limiting her impact.
Hailey Van Lith Reacts to “Miss March” Moniker
In a post-game interview, Hailey Van Lith talked about her current mindset gouging into games and how it has helped her be more focused.
“At this point, I just have ultimate confidence and faith in myself to compete at an intense level,” Van Lith said. “What I’ve learned through my experience in these tournaments is you can’t always ask yourself to make every shot, but if you’re willing to compete and lay it all out there every game, you’re giving yourself a better shot than a lot of other people are out there.”
For this season, Hailey Van Lith averaged 17.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game across 37 games.
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Sabel has been working as a field reporter for People’s Television Network (PTV), mainly about the Philippine Basketball Association since 2016 and has been elevated to Executive Producer for sports in 2022. Aside from being on top of the Philippine sports scene, she is also a running enthusiast. You can also follow her on X at @SabelReyes2 and Instagram at @msabelreyes.
