Tulane University
Portland State
Women's Basketball Falls To Portland State, 83-76
Nov 27, 2010 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 27, 2010
Tulane/Portland State Game Book in PDF Format 
NEW ORLEANS - Four Green Wave players posted double-figure scoring totals and sophomore guard Olivia Grayson had a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds, but it was not enough as the Tulane University women's basketball team dropped an 83-76 decision to Portland State in day one of the Colliers International Classic Saturday afternoon at the University of California's Haas Pavilion.
Tulane trailed 41-30 at halftime and were down by 10 at 71-61 with 5:56 left in regulation. The Green Wave cut the deficit to a deuce courtesy of a 12-4 rally over the next 3:59 to make it 75-73 with 1:57 to go. The Tulane defense held Portland State without a field goal the rest of the way, but the Vikings hit 8-of-10 free throws down the stretch to account for the final score.
With the loss, the Green Wave fell from the ranks of the unbeaten and dropped to 4-1 on the year. Portland State, meanwhile, won its third consecutive contest and improved to 3-1. Tulane will close out play in the Colliers Classic on Sunday when the Wave face Cal State Fullerton in the consolation game at 2 p.m. (CST).
Senior forward Brittany Lindsey - who missed most of the second half after suffering a concussion - led the Green Wave with a season-best 19 points after hitting all seven of her shots from the field and connecting on all five of her free-throw attempts. Senior point guard Roshaunda Barnes was next with 16 points, followed by Grayson's 13 while senior forward Tiffany Aidoo finished with 12.
Grayson paced Tulane in rebounds and shared team-high assist honors with Barnes at three apiece. Aidoo, Barnes and sophomore guard Tyria Snow each had a pair of steals while Lindsey and freshman wing Whitney Bibbins both had one block.
Tulane out-scored Portland State in the paint, 48-36, and had just 14 turnovers to the Vikings' 21. PSU, however, held a 45-39 advantage on the boards, turned 16 offensive rebounds into 19 second-chance points, and had 12 fast-break points to the Green Wave's six.
Portland State got off to a red-hot start, hitting two of its first four shots and getting a pair of free throws by Shauneice Samms to claim a 7-0 advantage the Vikings would not relinquish. Tulane answered with a 5-0 rally to make it a two-point affair, before Portland State used a 9-0 run to make it a 16-5 ballgame just over seven minutes into the opening stanza.
Tulane got the deficit under double-digits nine times the remainder of the half, but Portland State came right back on each instance and went into the locker room at halftime on top by 11. The Vikings' lead swelled to as many as 13 twice as Kelli Valentine hit a jumper 2:57 into the half to make it 49-36 and when Samms converted a layup 2:20 later to make it 55-42.
The Green Wave cut the deficit to six at 67-61 on a Barnes layup with 6:37 to go only to see Lexi Bishop hit a layup and Valentine drained a 3-pointer on the Vikings' next two trips down the floor to push the Portland State lead back to 10. Down by eight 2:21 later, Barnes hit a layup, Snow stole a pass dished to Bibbins for another score, and junior center Brett Benzio found the hoop off a pass from Grayson to make it a two-point ballgame.
Samms hit one-of-two free throws the next time down the court and Tulane had a chance to make it a one-point affair on the ensuing possession. Benzio drew a foul to stop the clock with 1:26 to go, but both of her shots from the charity stripe were off the mark. Portland State's performance from the free throws held the Wave at arms' length the rest of the way.
Valentine led all players with 24 ponts and was one of four Portland State players to finish with double-digit scoring totals as Eryn Jones had 20, Courtney VanBrocklin finished with 19 and Samms tallied 16. VanBrocklin tallied a game-high 12 rebounds while Jones had eight assists.
Following Sunday's consolation contest against the Titans, the Green Wave return to action on Friday, Dec. 3, when Tulane opens play in the Big Easy Classic against St. Joseph's at 7 p.m. in Fogelman Arena.
Season tickets for the 2010-11 Tulane women's basketball season can still be purchased through the Tulane Athletics Ticket Office. Floor seats are $100 each while reserved and general admission tickets go for $85 and $50, respectively. In addition, Green Wave fans can purchase a Family 4-Pack (two adult, two youth tickets) for $150. Tulane faculty and staff can purchase season tickets at all levels for half price.
The Tulane Athletics Ticket Office is located on the first floor of the James W. Wilson, Jr. Center, and tickets can be purchased in person, over the phone at (504) 861-WAVE (9283) via the Internet at www.TulaneGreenWave.com.
