Tulane University
Loyola New Orleans
WBB Debut with 90-48 Exhibition Win over Loyola
Nov 5, 2015 | Women's Basketball
NEW ORLEANS - The 2015-16 Tulane women's basketball team debuted in high fashion on Thursday evening inside Avron B. Fogelman Arena in Devlin Fieldhouse, defeating Freret Street neighbor Loyola in an exhibition by the score of 90-48. Kolby Morgan, Leslie Vorpahl, Courtnie Latham and Taylor Emery all registered double-digit points and led a Green Wave attack that shot 45.8 percent from the field.
"Certainly give Loyola credit," Tulane head coach Lisa Stockton stated. "They came out and hit good shots and took the momentum early in the game. For us, we felt like we really had to increase our intensity. What changed the game for us was the press. We started pressuring and got some easy baskets. I thought that switched the momentum our way."
The Olive and Blue had to wrestle off some rust in the early goings, when they faced their largest deficit of the game, down 16-6 at the 3:54 mark of the first quarter. However, at that very moment, the Wave turned up the pressure on both ends, producing a 13-4 run to end the quarter, forcing five Loyola turnovers in the process.
Tulane then carried that surge into the second period, where they tallied 29 points and took a 48-33 lead into the locker-room at half. In fact, by the end of the second quarter, Morgan and Vorpahl already had a combined 29 points on 9-of-15 shooting from the field. Another reason for the change of momentum can be contributed to Tulane's ability to force a turnover, as the Wave converted 20 Loyola turnovers into 20 points by halftime.
In the second half, Tulane's defense was even stingier, stifling the Wolf Pack to just nine points in the third quarter and six in the fourth as Loyola shot 15.6 percent from the floor. In all, Loyola finished with 30 turnovers which Tulane converted into 34 of their final 90 points.
Morgan and Latham led the squad with 18 points each, as the latter tied Vorpahl for a team high four assists. Speaking of Vorpahl, the junior finished with 15 points and a team best five steals. Tierra Jones, Chinwe Duru and Caylah Cruickshank all led the rebounding effort with seven boards apiece, as the Wave outrebounded the Wolf Pack 47-33 in the game.
"It was a good feeling to be back out there," Morgan said. "Back with a new squad so it's a brand new atmosphere. Different people but the intensity still needs to stay up. Just a good feeling tonight."
Furthermore, all five freshmen played their first minutes in a Green Wave uniform this evening. Taylor Emery highlighted the group with a 16-point showing, primarily thanks to an 8-for-9 effort at the free-throw line. In addition, Ksenija Madzarevic was quite the defensive presence, recording four blocks in the game.
"It was exciting," Emery explained. "I was just happy to get out there with my squad and get the win."
Tulane will officially kick off their season next Friday, Nov. 13, at 5:30 p.m. CT, when they host fellow NCAA Tournament team from last season, Arkansas-Little Rock, inside Avron B. Fogelman Arena in Devlin Fieldhouse. To secure season tickets for women's basketball, please call (504) 861-WAVE (9283) or visit the ticket office located on the first floor of the James W. Wilson Jr. Center.
