Tulane University
15-4, 6-2
USF
16-4, 7-1
Tulane Falls at South Florida, 64-45
Jan 25, 2015 | Women's Basketball
TAMPA, Fla. - In a Sunday clash between two teams tied for second place in The American Athletic Conference standings, it was the University of South Florida (16-4, 7-1) who bested the Tulane women's basketball squad (15-4, 6-2) once more, this time by the score of 64-45. Leslie Vorpahl led with 12 points, with 10 of those points coming in the second half.
"It's hard to score in the paint on them. I thought we came out in the second half and really got some good looks and scored and then they just really went on a roll offensively. Give them credit. (Alisia) Jenkins and (Courtney) Williams just dominated the game."
Tulane was affected by two major scoring droughts in the first half that kept them off the scoreboard for nearly a combined nine and a half minutes. The score was 12-9 in USF's favor with 13:24 left in the first half when the Bulls produced a 7-0 run over five minutes to build a 10 point lead.
Seven combined points from Leslie Vorpahl and Kolby Morgan pulled the Green Wave within seven at the 5:59 mark but the Olive and Blue then went four minutes and 22 seconds without a basket before Jamie Kaplan's free throw at 1:37 got them back to within single digits at 26-17.
The Bulls then utilized a second 7-0 run to take a 33-17 lead into halftime, which was capped by a Courtney Williams buzzer beater. Williams, who was held to just 14 points against Tulane on Jan. 4, had 10 at the half.
Next, Tulane rallied behind the offense of Leslie Vorpahl to start the second half. The sophomore connected on four of her first six shots, including two three-pointers, scoring 10 points in the first three minutes to cut the deficit to 40-29.
Moments later, Chinwe Duru's basket at 13:32 pulled the Green Wave within single digits at 44-35. However, USF countered with yet another run, scoring ten straight points this time.
Courtney Williams' double-double of 24 points and 12 rebounds propelled USF to its final score of 64, marking her fifth straight game with 20+ points. She was followed by Laura Ferreira's 13 points and Alisia Jenkins' 13th double-double (10 points, 10 rebounds) on the year.
Vorpahl's 12 points was her third straight in double-figures, shooting 5-for-13 on the afternoon to go along with her team high three assists. Vorpahl now has 44 total points over the last three games, for an average of 14.7.
Kolby Morgan tallied a team high six rebounds and scored five points on a 2-for-8 day. The freshman also dished out three assists and picked up three steals.
USF's defense has now held Tulane to its two lowest shooting percentages on the year, as the Green Wave finished at 31.6 percent today. Tulane did record an improved second half effort, shooting 35.3 percent (26.1 in the first) and notching 28 points.
Up next, Tulane will not have to wait too long for a chance to bounce back, when they fly into Houston for a Tuesday, Jan. 27, contest with the Cougars at 7 p.m. CT.
"We have to come out and refocus and take care of business on Tuesday and go home with a win. You can't look in the rear-view mirror, you got to look forward," Stockton added.
