Women's Hoops Pulls Out 63-58 Win at SMU

Sunday, January 14

Dallas, TX

4:00 PM

Tulane University

SMU

Jan 14, 2007 | Women's Basketball

Jan. 14, 2007

Box Score

DALLAS - Senior guard D'Aundra Henry came off the bench for a season-high 24 points and junior forward Dominique Philpots scored all of her eight points in the second half to spark the Tulane's women's basketball team to a 63-58 win Sunday afternoon at Moody Coliseum on ESPN2. Senior guard Jami Montagnino added 11 points and seven rebounds.

The Wave (14-4 overall, 3-2 in Conference USA) out-rebounded SMU 50-42 and recorded 11 steals. Once again, Tulane used a second-half run to take control of a close game. Down five, 34-29, with 15:03 to go, Tulane used a 15-4 run to seize control of the game.

Dallas native Jennifer Sands chipped in eight rebounds, as did junior forward Kendra Barnes. Sophomore guard Ashley Langford added four assists and eight points.

SMU (11-6 overall, 3-2 C-USA) was paced by Delisha Wills' 21 points. Sharee Shepherd added 10 rebounds, as did Alice Severin, who also scored eight points.

The Green Wave struggled out of the gate, connecting on just one of the first 14 field goal attempts. But Tulane only trailed 12-7 after a bucket in transition and a pair of free throws by Henry. The Mustangs stretched the lead to 18-9 before Henry recorded back-to-back steals and fast break lay-ups.

Tulane's press led to an 8-0 run highlighted by steals from Henry and Langford. Megan Valicevic's put-back with 3:24 left in the first gave Tulane a 23-20 lead.

But the Mustangs closed the half with a three from Brittany Gilliam for a 25-23 lead at the break. Henry and SMU's Delisha Wills each posted 10 points in the first frame.

Tulane tied the game with the first basket of the second half, but SMU reeled off a 9-2 run. The Wave rallied with a lay-up and pair of free throws by Dominique Philpots. Philpots then picked off a pass and hit a long jumper for a 38-36 lead

Henry spotted Tulane a 52-42 lead after a steal and lay-up while being intentionally fouled. After hitting one of two free throws, she hit a jumper with 7:06 to go.

SMU whittled the lead down to 54-49 before Henry nailed a jumper from the elbow and Langford hit a pair of free throws.

But the Mustangs wouldn't go quietly as Jillian Samuels hit a three with 1:32 remaining to cut the margin to 58-52 and another with 1:14 left to make it a three-point game.

Henry kissed it off the glass while driving for a five-point edge with 40 seconds left. After Alendra Brown hit one of two free throws, Tulane stopped the Mustangs as Montagnino came away with the rebound and hit a pair of free throws for a 63-56 lead. SMU got a put-back by Wills, but the Wave held on by running out the clock.

Tulane returns to Fogelman Arena for a rematch with UTEP, who handed Tulane its first C-USA loss on January 2 in El Paso. The Miners and Wave tip off Saturday at 5 p.m.