Tulane Preps for Hofstra Thanksgiving Tournament
Nov 27, 2014 | Women's Basketball
Printable Notes | Live Stream | Live Stats
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. - After a day of sight-seeing in Manhattan, the Tulane women's basketball team crossed the bridge to Long Island to prepare for the two-day, Hofstra Thanksgiving Tournament. The four team bracket features the undefeated (RV) Green Wave (4-0) taking on (RV) Western Kentucky (3-2) on Friday at 1 p.m. CT. Then, depending on the outcome, the Wave will either clash with Northern Iowa or host Hofstra on Saturday at either 1 or 3 p.m. A free live stream will be made available at GoHofstra.com.
Tulane will look to make just its fifth ever 5-0 start in program history on Friday vs. the Hilltoppers. The contest marks the second straight opponent who has received votes in both the A.P. and Coaches poll.
The Green Wave continue to be efficient on the defensive side of the court, after holding N.C. State to its lowest points total (51) and shooting percentage (.308) on the year. In fact, Tulane has held all four of its opponents thus far under 34.0 percent shooting.
Offensively, Tulane continues to be led by Kolby Morgan, who is averaging 14.0 points per game along with her team best 6.3 rebounds. The now two-time American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Week has also been clutch on the free-throw line down the stretch. In the closing two minutes of both the LSU and N.C. State games, Morgan went a combined 5-of-6 on the line.
Following right behind her is senior Danielle Blagg, who is averaging 11.5 points per game. After a 12-point performance vs the Wolfpack, Blagg recorded her 50th career game in double-figures. Furthermore, the San Antonio native has tallied multiple three-point field goals in every game this season, with a .450 shooting percentage from beyond the arc.
Meanwhile, Western Kentucky started its season with three straight wins, reaching the WNIT Preseason finals. They then proceded to drop their next two games, losing 88-77 to Mississippi State and 89-67 to Louisville.
WKU has experienced quite the difference between home and away contests. At home, Western Kentucky has limited opponents to 55.5 points per game, but on the road, the Hilltoppers are givining up an average of 85.0.
Western Kentucky is led by the senior duo of Chastity Gooch and Alexis Govan, who average 19.6 and 14.6 ppg, respectively. Both players are fresh off of 20-point performances at Louisville, with Gooch earning a double-double with 10 rebounds. Furthermore, Kendall Noble, a 5'11" redshirt sophomore guard, is the lone Hilltopper to average double figures in both points (12.6) and rebounds (10.8) and also leads the squad in total assists (20) and steals (18).
The winner of the Tulane-Western Kentucky game will square off with the winner of the Northern Iowa-Hofstra contest on Saturday at 3 p.m, with the other two teams playing earlier at 1 p.m. Excluding its own DoubleTree Classic, the Green Wave are 46-15 overall in in-season tournaments.
For more information on the Hofstra Thanksgiving Tournament, visit GoHofstra.com.
