(Photo Courtesy of Notre Dame Women’s Basketball)

TCU proved to be kryptonite for the Notre Dame women’s basketball team this season.

The Horned Frogs held the Irish to their two worst shooting days of the season, including in Saturday’s Sweet 16—ending Notre Dame’s season 71-62 in Birmingham, Alabama.

Hailey Van Lith led all scores with 26 points.

Despite their shooting woes, Notre Dame led 46-37 in the 3rd quarter before TCU used an 8-0 run to get back in it. After the Horned Frogs briefly took the lead, Liatu King made a bucket at the buzzer to give the Irish a 52-51 lead heading to the 4th quarter. TCU dominated the 4th, outscoring the Irish 20-10 to win the game.

King was Notre Dame’s only effective scorer, making eight of her nine shots from the field to finish with a team high 17 points and 10 rebounds.

ND’s big 3 of Hannah Hidalgo, Olivia Miles and Sonia Citron struggled greatly, combining to make just 10 of 44 shots as the Irish as a whole finished the game shooting just 32% from the field including going 3-15 from 3-point range.

Hidalgo finished with 15 points, mainly from going 9-12 from the free throw line, while Miles scored 10 and Citron was held to nine.

ND’s shooting woes were on display from the get go as TCU built an early 20-13 lead before a 11-0 Irish run that bled into the 2nd quarter put Notre Dame in front for a considerable portion of the game. The Irish led 35-33 at halftime.

While Notre Dame was making its 4th straight appearance in the Sweet 16, the Irish have failed to make it beyond this round in five seasons under coach Niele Ivey.

It was the final game in the college careers of King, Citron, Liza Karlen and Maddy Westbeld. Miles has not announced her future.