Tulane University
Buffalo
No. 23 Tulane Women Roll Over Buffalo in DoubleTree Classic
Dec 28, 2001 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 28, 2001
NEW ORLEANS, La. - The No. 23 Tulane University Green Wave used a crippling first-half run to cruise to a 76-29 defeat of the University at Buffalo in women's basketball action at the Tulane/DoubleTree Classic on Friday evening at Fogelman Arena.
The Green Wave (10-2) will face the winner of the second game of the evening between Virginia and Long Island University in the Championship game at 8 p.m. Saturday. Buffalo (4-6) will face the loser of Friday's second game at 6 p.m.
Trailing 5-0 early in the game, the Green Wave settled down, scoring its first hoop on a McKiver putback at 17:43. That basket keyed a 24-1 Green Wave run, pushing the score to 24-6 with seven minutes remaining in the first half. The Bulls went 11 minutes and 14 seconds without hitting a field goal. Tulane held a 34-13 advantage at the break.
Four three-pointers from Britt Themann keyed the first-half rally. Themann added another three in the second half and finished with a game-high 17 points. She had scored a season-high 20 points, including four three-pointers, in the Wave's loss to Drake last week.
"I feel like I am getting more opportunities and I am trying to open it up for the post a bit more," Themann said. "I am feeling a bit more fluid recently."
In addition to Themann, junior Teana McKiver posted her third double-double of the season with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Senior Sarah Goree contributed 11 points, while sophomore Kelly Nadeau had nine points (all on three-pointers), seven assists and three rebounds.
The 29 points by Buffalo is the fourth-lowest point total for a Green Wave opponent in school history. It is the least scored by a Wave foe since Feb. 18, 1978 when Spring Hill scored 16 points in a 57-16 loss.
"I think our players responded very well from the Drake loss [67-58 on Dec. 21]," Tulane head coach Lisa Stockton said. "We were intense for 40 minutes. We had a chance to play everybody and I think everyone added to the game."
"We just tried to really pick up the intensity and maintain it for 40 minutes," Themann added.
The second half brought more of the same with the Wave opening the stanza with an 8-0 run, expanding the lead to 29 points at 42-13. Eight straight points from Sarah Goree, including a pair of three pointers made it 52-17 with 12:55 to go. Sophomore Delacey Joseph followed with a free throw and a breakaway layup to push the advantage to 38. A Kelly Nadeau three-pointer kept the run flowing, making it 58-17. Less than two minutes later, Nadeau nailed another three and the score was 65-20 with 8:23 to go.
Tulane shot 44.8 percent (30-of-67) from the field, while holding the Bulls to 19.3 percent (11-of-57) shooting. The Wave dominated the glass, 53-34, including a 31-14 advantage in the second half. The 10 three-pointers by the Wave marked the third straight game that Tulane has connected for at least eight treys.
Tulane has not lost a game in the DoubleTree Classic since its inception during the 1996-97 season, a stretch of 11 straight games.
Tickets for both games are available at Fogelman Arena prior to the game. Tickets for all Green Wave athletic events are available by calling 504-861-WAVE.
