Women's Basketball To Participate In Cancun Challenge
Nov 23, 2011 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 23, 2011
Coach Stockton's Comments Entering The Cancun Challenge
Tulane Game Notes
CANCUN, Mexico - The Tulane University women's basketball with play its first game away from Fogelman Arena during the 2011-12 season when the Green Wave open play in the Cancun Challenge on Thursday, Nov. 24, at the Moon Palace Resort.
Tulane heads South of the Border 4-0 on the year and already with one win over a nationally-ranked team under its belt courtesy of a 65-62 overtime win over then-No. 20 LSU on Nov. 19. The Green Wave will have a chance to make it two in the day one of the Cancun Challenge as Tulane will face No. 17 Purdue at 12:30 p.m. (CST) before squaring off against Idaho State on Friday at 11 a.m.
"This time of the year, a lot of it is about (the team) getting to know each other and building that team chemistry, especially with as many new players as we have," Tulane head coach Lisa Stockton said of playing in Mexico. "I think this group really likes each other, but this environment gives us a chance to play two teams we wouldn't normally play but gives us a chance to spend some time together in a rather unique setting.
"I definitely think this is a great opportunity for us. Purdue is a program in women's basketball that has been one of the powerhouses for years. Our players certainly have a lot of respect for them, and it's nice when you're on a trip like this that you have an opportunity to play such a good opponent."
As a team, the Green Wave enter the Cancun Challenge averaging 71.8 points, 49.8 rebounds, 18.5 assists, 11.0 steals and 6.3 blocks per game. Freshman guard Danielle Blagg leads the team with 14.8 points per game followed by junior guard Olivia Grayson and freshman forward Tiffany Dale with averages of 13.3 and 13.0, respectively. Senior Brett Benzio has a team-best 10.0 rebounds per game and paces the squad with eight blocks. Grayson leads the Wave with 20 assists and 13 steals.
Tulane connected at a .411 clip from the field in 2011-12, hitting 108-of-263 shots from the floor, and 27-of-70 shots from beyond the 3-point arc (.386), while allowing opponents to shoot .305 overall (73-of-239) and .224 from 3-point land (15-of-67). Green Wave opponents, meanwhile, are averaging 48.8 points, 37.0 rebounds, 11.0 assists, 11.8 steals and 4.0 blocks per game so far in 2011-12.
The Wave will get a boost in the healthy return of junior forward Janique Kautsky and Dale for Thursday's game. Dale's lone appearance of the year came in the season-opener against Loyola when she had 13 points, seven rebounds and a pair of blocks in 18 minutes off the bench. Kautsky, meanwhile, has started all three games she has played in so far this season and ranks third on the team in blocks (2), fifth in rebounds (15) and rebounds per game (5.0), and tied for fifth in assists (4).
"I think it gives us so many options, whether it's foul trouble or whether it's matchup situations," Stockton said of Dale and Kautsky's return. "Janique has really played very consistently and has been a steady returner who has done good things for us. In the one game that Tiffany Dale played in, I thought she played terrific. Trying to mix both of them back into the line-up certainly is challenging because of our numbers, but it gives us some other options that we don't have without them."
Purdue heads to Mexico 4-0 on the year and fresh off a 76-49 victory over Chicago State on Tuesday night in West Lafayette, Ind. As a team, the Boilermakers are averaging 67.5 points, 39.5 rebounds, 17.0 assists, 11.3 steals and 8.0 blocks per game. Brittany Rayburn leads the team with 14.0 points per game while K.K. Houser and Courtney Moses follow with averages 9.8 and 9.5, respectively. Sam Ostarello leads the squad with 5.3 rebounds per game and shares team-high block honors with Dee Dee Williams with seven swats apiece. Houser leads the team with 15 assists and 16 steals.
Purdue is hitting 47.8 percent of its shots from the field, connecting on 108-of-226 attempts, including a 15-of-47 showing from beyond the 3-point line (.319). The Boilermakers' defense has held opponents to a 30.0 shooting percentage (68-of-227) and a 24.7 clip from 3-point land (19-of-77). Purdue opponents are averaging 46.5 points, 32.5 rebounds, 10.3 assists, 10.3 steals and 4.5 blocks per game.
Idaho State, meanwhile, enters the Cancun Challenge 2-2 on the year and looking to bounce back from a 68-59 loss to Utah Valley on Saturday in Orem, Utah.
As a team, the Bengals are averaging 66.2 points, 40.8 rebounds, 11.0 assists, 4.5 steals and 3.0 blocks per game. Jessa Jeppesen leads the team with 14.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. Lindsey Reed and Ashleigh Vella rank No. 2 and 3 in scoring with averages 13.5 and 11.8, respectively. Kara Jenkins headlines the squad with 11 assists, Reed has a team-best five steals and Cydney Horton has four of the team's 12 blocked shots.
Idaho State is hitting 36.3 percent of its shots from the field, connecting on 86-of-237 attempts, including a 10-of-69 showing from beyond the 3-point line (.145). The Bengals' defense has allowed opponents to post a 39.9 shooting percentage (91-of-228) and a .261 clip from 3-point land (12-of-46). Idaho State opponents are averaging 66.0 points, 39.0 rebounds, 12.8 assists, 7.3 steals and 4.0 blocks per game.
"I think over the years, our team has played well on the road," Stockton said. "I think one of the reasons that they have, especially in conference games, is because we do this...because we go away in non-conference (play). This is certainly two neutral games, so these aren't on someone else's court. With a younger group, it's important for them to know how to go on the road and be able to compete there. Once you get in conference play, half of your games are there and you need to win those games on the road."
The Green Wave's games in the Cancun Challenge are the first of five straight games away from home as Tulane will play at Louisiana Tech on Dec. 2, at Mississippi State on Dec. 4, and at North Texas on Dec. 9. The Wave's next home game is slated for Sunday, Dec. 11, when they play host to Southern at 2 p.m. in Fogelman Arena.
For tickets to that game and future Green Wave home events, contact the Tulane Athletics Ticket Office either in person, over the phone at 504-861-WAVE (9283) or via the Internet at www.TulaneGreenWave.com. The Ticket Office located on the first floor of the James W. Wilson, Jr. Center on Ben Weiner Drive, is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
