Before tipoff Friday, Olivia Miles told her coach she would be just as happy with zero points and 20 assists as she would with any other line in the box score.
She finished with 12 points, 16 rebounds, and 14 assists. TCU won by 46. Nobody argued.
Miles’ performance in the Horned Frogs’ 86-40 first-round rout of UC San Diego was her 12th career triple-double and her second in the NCAA Tournament, making her the third player in women’s tournament history to pull it off multiple times. She joined Sabrina Ionescu and Nicole Powell in that company — and did it with a career-high in rebounds and a single-game TCU record in assists along the way.
“The rebounds are always the hardest part for me,” Miles said. “So, yeah, just going for it when I can.”
A Record That Kept Building
Miles had a double-double before halftime. She finished the first half with 10 rebounds and 10 assists to go along with four points, and TCU led 48-25 at the break. She set the tone immediately, assisting on the Horned Frogs’ first four baskets as TCU jumped out to an 11-2 lead just over two minutes into the game.
The triple-double became official when she drained a 3-pointer with 4:50 remaining to push past the 10-point threshold. She came out of the game immediately after.
It was her sixth triple-double this season alone, extending her own Big 12 records for both single-season and career marks.
Olivia Miles Joins Rare Company
The last women’s NCAA Tournament triple-double before Friday came from Caitlin Clark, who had 41 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists for Iowa against Louisville on March 26, 2023. The one before that? Miles herself, with Notre Dame in 2022, when she had 12 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists in a first-round game against Massachusetts.
Ionescu, who posted tournament triple-doubles with Oregon in 2018 and 2019, and Powell, who did it in back-to-back Stanford games in 2002, are the only others with multiple such performances. In terms of career triple-doubles overall, only Ionescu (26) and Clark (17) have more than Miles’ 12.
New School, Same Player
Miles transferred to TCU for her final college season after building her reputation at Notre Dame, and the transition has looked seamless on the court. She leaned on that when asked about it Friday.
“It’s the best feeling in the world,” Miles said of finding her new teammates for open shots. “I love to pass the ball. I’d much rather pass than score, so it’s so rewarding when my teammates hit shots. And then it just flows. The energy just comes from there.”
TCU guard Taylor — who drew praise from Miles at the podium — had a strong shooting night that fed off Miles’ vision throughout.
“This girl right here next to me, Taylor was hitting shots,” Miles said. “So proud of these girls. You know, it’s our last time doing this in the show, so we gotta get it done.”
One More Run for Olivia Miles
Miles knows this is her final run. She said as much when asked about the quick turnaround before Sunday’s second-round game.
“You soak this moment in, and then you’re onto the next,” Miles said. “But just an incredible win. You gotta be grateful and appreciative every time you get to compete on this floor. And I get one more here, sadly, but just really grateful.”
She has spent her college career making history in the margins, in box score lines that most players never approach. Friday was one more.
