Tulane University
SMU
Tulane Drops Conference USA Home Opener to SMU, 78-66
Jan 6, 2006 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 6, 2006
NEW ORLEANS, La. - Conference USA women's basketball play opened on Friday evening at Fogelman Arena and Tulane had another strong performance from Jennifer Sands. However, SMU's Janielle Dodds took charge of the game, scoring a career-high 27 points to lead the Mustangs to a 78-66 victory over the Green Wave at Fogelman Arena.
Sands scored 15 points, snagged nine rebounds and dished out five assists to lead Tulane (6-4, 1-1 C-USA). Sands was named Louisiana Player of the Week for this past week after averaging 19.0 points and 9.7 rebounds over three games for the Green Wave. However, on Friday, it was SMU's Dodds taking charge, piling up 27 points, hitting 10-of-15 shots, and 13 rebounds for SMU (6-8, 1-1 C-USA).
Dodds nearly single-handedly kept the Mustangs in the game, scoring 16 points in the first 10 minutes of the second stanza to keep the Mustangs within one at 56-55 with 10:14 to go. Her final bucket in that stretch tipped off a 7-0 SMU run which had the Wave trailing 60-56 with 7:21 remaining.
Tulane continued to battle as baskets from Alendra Brown and Ashley Langford pulled the Wave within two on two occasions, but SMU answered each punch. Kendall Shead knocked down all six of her free throws in the final minute to eliminate any chance of a comeback for Tulane.
"It really came down to what happened down the stretch," Tulane coach Lisa Stockton said. "We gave them some big offensive rebounds and we turned the ball over. Game over."
In addition to Sands, Tulane had 13 points and eight assists from Langford, who leads Conference USA in assists. Junior Jami Montagnino scored 11 points in the loss. SMU's Sarah Davis joined Dodds inside to tally 10 points and 12 rebounds.
With the score tied at 31 at the break, the Wave came out strong in the second half. A Kendra Barnes free throw, a Nikki Luckhurst baseline jumper and a double-pump layup and foul shot by Lanford capped an 11-4 Wave rally which made it 44-37 with 16:39 on the clock.
"When we took the lead, we had a good rhythm, we were clamping down on defense, but it just turned around really quickly," Stockton said. "It was a close game, but we couldn't convert in the plays at the end. They are a good team with a lot of weapons."
The teams traded baskets with Dodds providing the bulk for SMU as she wore down the Green Wave.
Tulane shot 42.6 percent (29-of-68) from the floor while SMU knocked down 45.3 percent (29-of-64) of its shots. The Mustangs also nailed 16-of-21 (76.2 percent) of its free throws, while the Wave made just six attempts from the line, making four of those. SMU held a 41-36 edge on the glass and the Wave had 15 turnovers to SMU's 12.
"Tonight, when they double-teamed Jennifer [Sands] down low," Stockton said. "We couldn't find the open man; and we've been really good at that all year."
Tulane will be back in action on Sunday afternoon, hosting Tulsa in another Conference USA contest. The game will be televised live nationally on ESPN2 and is scheduled to tip-off at 2 p.m. Tickets are available by calling 504-247-1240 or 247-1241, by going online at TulaneGreenWave.com or by visiting the Tulane Box Office, now located at Fogelman Arena.
