Tulane University
Virginia
McKiver Leads Tulane Past Virginia In DoubleTree Classic Championship Game
Dec 29, 2001 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 29, 2001
NEW ORLEANS, La. - -
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Tulane University, ranked No. 23 in the country, won its 11 consecutive in-season tournament title, defeating the University of Virginia, 74-63, in women's basketball action at the Tulane/Doubletree Classic at Fogelman Arena on Saturday evening.
Junior Teana McKiver earned tournament Most Valuable Player honors after scoring 18 points with 10 rebounds in the Championship game. She also had a double-double in the first-round game with Buffalo. It is McKiver's third tournament MVP trophy this year.
"I think my teammates made me look a lot better than I played," McKiver said. "They always get me the ball in great position."
Tulane (11-2) held a nine-point lead midway through the second half, but Virginia (7-5) chipped away, cutting the margin to three at 60-57 with 4:54 to go on a fast-break layup from Anna Prillamen. However, Delacey Joseph kicked off a 9-1 Green Wave run which put the game out of reach. After Joseph scored on an acrobatic runner in the lane, Gwen Slaughter was fouled after an offensive board and hit one free throw and then snagged another carom and put it back for two. That was followed by a Kelly Nadeau steal and breakaway layup, while a strong post-move by McKiver capped the run, making it 69-58 with 1:34 to go.
The Cavaliers cut it to six with 1:01 to go, but the Wave connected on five-of-six free throws in the final minute to seal the victory, Tulane's 12th straight win in the DoubleTree Classic.
"Our execution in the last three minutes was key," Tulane head coach Lisa Stockton said. "We hit our free throws, we got the rebounds to limit them to only one shot and we executed on offense. That was key for us."
Tulane was clinging to a 49-48 lead with 12:39 to go and Virginia had three opportunities to take the lead. However, the Cavs missed two shots and then turned the ball over. A Wave miss was followed by a McKiver putback which jump-started an 11-3 Green Wave run. Joseph capped the stretch with a pair of three-pointers to make it 60-51.
However, Virginia roared right back, scoring the next six points to cut it to 60-57.
Joining McKiver on the all-tournament team were Tulane teammates Slaughter and Joseph, as well as Virginia players Telisha Quarles and Brandi Teamer and Buffalo's Jessica Kochendorfer.
Joseph scored a career-high 20 points, while Slaughter had 10 points and a career-best 17 rebounds. Kelly Nadeau chipped in with 11 points, three rebounds and three assists. Quarles scored 17 points in the championship game for Virginia, while Teamer posted a double-double with 16 points and 10 boards.
"I think this was a heckuva win," Joseph said after the game. "Virginia is a very good team, an elite team. They should be ranked. We executed very well offensively and got the job done. And Gwen Slaughter had an unbelievable game."
The Wave took a 42-34 advantage into the halftime break after shooting 54.5 percent (18-of-33) from the field. McKiver notched 12 points and six rebounds in the opening stanza.
Tulane has not lost a game in the DoubleTree Classic since its inception in 1996-97, a stretch of 12 straight games. The Wave has also won 10 consecutive in-season tournaments, dating back to the 1995-96 season.
In the consolation game, Buffalo held off a ferocious Long Island University comeback for a 62-60 victory. Leading 58-50 With 3:19 to go, the Bulls saw LIU roar back into the game. A three-pointer by Corinne Broadhead and a banked-home three from Kim MacMillan cut the lead to two points with two minutes to go. A Buffalo turnover was followed by a Angelika Stec layup to knot the game at 58. After a hoop by Buffalo and a pair of free throws by LIU, the score remained tied at 60 all with 33 seconds to go. After working the clock, Bulls guard Virginia Jennings drove to the hoop, scooping home a layup with 5.2 clicks remaining. LIU's last-second shot was off the mark and Buffalo held on. MacMillan connected on three three-pointers in the contest, setting an NCAA record for consecutive games with a three-pointer (54).
Tulane returns to action on Jan. 2, traveling to Massachusetts to face Boston University in a non-league contest.
