
Women's Basketball To Play At South Alabama On Tuesday
Nov 30, 2009 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 30, 2009
NEW ORLEANS - The Tulane University women's basketball team will play its first true "road" game of the 2009-10 season on Tuesday, Dec. 1, when the Green Wave travel to Mobile, Ala., to take on South Alabama at 7:05 p.m. at the Mitchell Center.
The Green Wave have already played a pair of games away from home, but both were considered neutral games as Tulane tackled Liberty and Loyola (Md.) two weekends ago at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. Tuesday's game at South Alabama is the first of three contests for Tulane this week as the Green Wave return to Fogelman Arena to take on Prairie View A&M on Friday in the opening game of the Big Easy Classic before heading across town to battle Longwood on Saturday at the UNO Lakefront Arena.
Tulane heads to Mobile 2-2 on the year and looking to bounce back from a hard-fought 73-65 overtime loss to No. 7 LSU on Wednesday at Fogelman Arena. As a team, the Green Wave are averaging 65.2 points, 33.0 rebounds, 18.0 assists, 11.8 steals and 3.5 blocks per game.
Senior guard Chassity Brown and sophomore post player Brett Benzio lead the Wave with scoring averages of 13.0 and 9.8, respectively, while guards Indira Kaljo and Olivia Grayson are next with identical 9.5 marks. Benzio leads the team in rebounds, averaging 9.0 per game, Brown paces the club with 12 steals, and Grayson is averaging a team-best 5.25 assists per contest.
Tulane is hitting 44.2 percent of its shots from the field, connecting on 100-of-226 attempts, including 22-of-58 from beyond the 3-point arc (.379). The Green Wave defense has held opponents to a 36.3 shooting percentage (77-of-212) and a 28.6 clip from 3-point land (12-of-42). Tulane opponents are averaging 57.8 points, 40.5 rebounds, 9.3 assists, 8.5 steals and 2.3 blocks per game.
South Alabama, meanwhile, comes into the midweek matchup 2-3 on the year and looking to snap a two-game losing streak after falling to William & Mary (46-44) and UW-Milwaukee (72-54) over the weekend in Seattle.
As a team, the Jaguars are averaging 64.2 points, 35.4 rebounds, 14.4 assists, 7.8 steals and 1.8 blocks per game. Christian Shelter leads South Alabama with a 12.4 point-per-game average while Sarda Peterson is next at 10.6. Morriah Smith and Cylenthia Kennon are tied for the team lead in rebounds, averaging 5.2 per game apiece, Shakira Netles paces the club with six steals and Siedah Banks averages a team-best 4.2 assists per game.
USA is hitting 36.5 percent of its shots from the field, connecting on 119-of-326 attempts, including a 44-of-132 showing from beyond the 3-point line (.333). The Jags' defense has allowed opponents to post a 42.1 shooting percentage (107-of-254) and a 31.0 clip from 3-point land (15-of-47). South Alabama opponents are averaging 55.6 points, 40.8 rebounds, 11.8 assists, 4.0 steals and 1.6 blocks per game.
Tuesday's game marks the 18th meeting between Tulane and South Alabama on the hardwood and the Green Wave trail in the all-time series, 6-11. The series dates back to Jan. 13, 1978 when Tulane won the first of two straight games against the Jaguars, but South Alabama won 11 of the next 12 meetings from 1979-89. The Green Wave, however, have won the last three matchups, 73-69 on March 1, 1990 in Fogelman Arena, 76-54 on Dec. 2, 1996 in Mobile, and 101-38 on Dec. 1, 1997 in New Orleans.
For tickets to this weekend's Big Easy Classic, as well as future Green Wave events, may be purchase in person on the first floor of the James W. Wilson, Jr., Center, over the phone at (504) 861-WAVE (9283), or online at www.TulaneGreenWave.com. Tickets can also be purchase on the date of competition at Fogelman Arena.
In addition, fans are encouraged to bring a non-perishable, canned-food item to any Tulane basketball game through Dec. 22 to receive $1 off regular general admission prices. All proceeds from the food drive benefit the New Orleans Second Harvest Food Bank.