Women’s Hoops Rallies to Best NC State, 63-58

Saturday, December 17

Avron B. Fogelman Arena in the Devlin Fieldhouse

2 p.m. CT

Tulane University

6-4

NC State

9-3

NC State

Tulane

Photo by: Parker Waters

Women’s Hoops Rallies to Best NC State, 63-58

Dec 17, 2016 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Green Wave overcame 13-point deficit in second half

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NEW ORLEANS – Trailing by as much as 13 points midway through the third quarter, the Tulane women's basketball team rallied to defeat NC State, 63-58, halting the squad's three-game losing streak in resounding fashion. The Green Wave shot 60.0 percent in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Wolfpack 28-16, as Kolby Morgan, Leslie Vorpahl and Caylah Cruickshank combined for all but just one of those points.

Morgan finished with a game high 27 points, including a career high six made three-pointers, while Vorpahl also finished in double-digits with 15 points. Cruickshank tied her career high with eight points, all of which came in the final period.

"I'm just really proud of this group," Tulane head coach Lisa Stockton stated. "We got down in both the first and second half and just really battled. We got a lot from our bench and I thought Cruickshank was the sub of the game. Our team found a way and that's where we struggled a little bit. We've had a tough schedule and our team came in with a different mindset today."

The Olive and Blue got off to a slow shooting start at 1-for-12 from the field, but the Wave's defense kept the game close at 14-9 after one. Tulane then jumped out to a 21-16 lead, but NC State retaliated with a 24-6 run from 4:02 in the second quarter to 3:41 in the third, building their largest lead of the game at 40-27.

Yet, Tulane picked up the defensive pressure and began to chip away at NC State's lead, getting a big boost from its bench in the form of Cruickshank who connected on two big three-pointers in the fourth quarter, as the second one gave the Wave a 52-49 lead with 5:26 to go.

Tulane also received clutch three-pointers from Vorpahl with 2:34 remaining (up 55-54) and Morgan at 1:20 (up 58-54). Later, up 58-56, Vorpahl answered the call again with a layup with 30 seconds left, which was followed by free throws from Morgan and Courtnie Latham to arrive to our final score of 63-58.

Also important to note that the Wave outrebounded the Wolfpack, 41-39, as sophomore Meredith Schulte led the way on the boards with a career high tying 10 rebounds, marking her second double-figure rebound game of the season.

Up next, the Green Wave will welcome Eastern Washington, Auburn and Drake to New Orleans for the 21^st Annual Tulane Classic, beginning Wednesday, Dec. 21 at 3 p.m. CT. Tulane's game vs Eastern Washington tips at 5 p.m.