Tulane University
XAVIER of Louisiana (Exhibition)
Women's Basketball Rolls Over Xavier In Final Exhibition
Nov 9, 2001 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 9, 2001
NEW ORLEANS, La. - Gwen Slaughter had a double-double to lead the Tulane women's basketball team to a 74-48 win over crosstown rival Xavier of New Orleans in the Green Wave's final exhibition at Fogelman Arena on Friday.
The Green Wave outscored the Gold Nuggets 33-17 in the second half to post its second win in as many exhibition games. After taking a 41-31 lead into the break, Tulane held Xavier to just nine points through the first 15 minutes of the second frame, building a 67-40 lead.
Slaughter had 14 points and 10 rebounds while adding four assists, six blocked shots and two steals in 28 minutes of work. She connected on six of her nine field goal attempts and was a perfect 2-of-2 from the free throw line. Sophomore Delacey Joseph also scored 14 points, thanks in part to a 4-of-6 performance from behind the three-point arc.
"We had some good moments tonight, but I think we still need time to gel," Tulane head coach Lisa Stockton said. "Xavier played very hard and did some nice things. This was a good test for us against an aggressive, athletic team."
Tulane built a nine-point lead, 23-14, midway through the first half, only to see Xavier rally to tie the game at 28-28 with just under six minutes remaining. However, Tulane answered with a 13-1 run to claim a 41-29 lead. Back-to-back lay-ups from Slaughter and Teana McKiver started the run, before Kelly Nadeau hit a three-pointer to put the Wave up by seven. Nadeau assisted on another McKiver lay-up, then hit a pair of free throws to give Tulane a 39-28 cushion. The Gold Nuggets answered with a free throw to trim the lead to 10 before Tiffany Wilson hit a jumper to give Tulane its biggest lead of the half, 41-29. Xavier would hit a pair of free throws to cut Tulane's lead to 41-31 at halftime.
Salome Hector added 11 points and four steals for Tulane, while McKiver had seven points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots. The Green Wave held a 54-40 edge in rebounding and forced Xavier into a 17-of-63 (27.0 percent) shooting performance from the field. Tulane connected on 45.5 percent of its shots (25-of-55), including a 50.0 percent (5-of-10) performance from the behind the three-point arc.
"It was nice to see Salome back to her old self tonight," Stockton added. "She did a great job of attacking the basket and making things happen for us. Delacey also played extremely well. She is such an exciting player and I think she showed that tonight."
Tulane opens the 2001-02 regular season next Friday, Nov. 16, as the Green Wave play host to High Point at Fogelman Arena. The game, which tips off at 6 p.m., is the first half of a doubleheader as the Wave men play neighbor Loyola immediately following.
