Tulane University
14-5, 5-2AAC
SMU
8-9, 3-3AAC
WBB Earns Gritty 54-42 Road Win at SMU
Jan 20, 2016 | Women's Basketball
DALLAS - The (NR/RV) Tulane women's basketball team (14-5, 5-2 AAC) picked up their third straight road victory on Wednesday night, earning a gritty 54-42 win over SMU (8-9, 3-3) inside Moody Coliseum. The Green Wave defense held the Mustangs to a new season low point total while Kolby Morgan registered her fifth 20+ scoring performance on the year with 21 points, which included a 4-for-8 night from three-point range.
Tulane got off to a slightly slow start, tied at 18-all at 6:04 in the second quarter, before the Wave offense caught fire, producing a 15-1 run in which they shot 6-of-8 from the field, including three consecutive three-pointers from Meredith Schulte, Morgan, and Leslie Vorpahl. The Wave defense ultimately kept the Mustangs off the board for over five minutes, charging into the locker-room with a 31-20 halftime lead.
However, after the break, Tulane's offense hit a cold spell as SMU rallied with an 11-3 scoring differential over the course of the third quarter, in which the Olive and Blue went 0-for-8 from the field. The Wave also got into early foul trouble, accumulating eight fouls over the period as the Mustangs shot 7-of-11 from the free throw line in that 10-minute stretch.
"That third quarter was tough," Tulane women's basketball head coach Lisa Stockton stated. "I thought our defense did a great job of holding on to the lead. We had some shots, just couldn't knock them down. Their defense is really good as well."
Only up 34-31 to begin the fourth quarter, Morgan recaptured the momentum by connecting on back-to-back three-pointers, ending the team's eleven-and-a-half minute stretch without a field goal.
"That was the game," Stockton said on Morgan's fourth quarter three-pointers. "She got those six quick points that gave us a big enough lead that we could protect."
SMU would cut the deficit to three at 43-40 with 2:27 to go, yet Tulane closed the door once more with a 6-0 run, all from the free-throw line. In fact, Tulane's last 11 points came from the charity stripe as Morgan, Vorpahl, Schulte, Courtnie Latham and Chinwe Duru all chipped in free throws to seal the 54-42 road victory.
Speaking of the Green Wave defensive effort, Tulane held SMU to just 1-of-20 (5.0%) from three-point range, marking a new season best. Tulane's three-point field goal percentage defense was ranked 58th in the nation heading into tonight's game.
Up next, the Green Wave return to New Orleans to open a three-game home-stand, its longest of the conference season. Up first, the Wave will welcome East Carolina on Saturday, Jan. 23, before hosting Temple on Jan. 26 and the No. 1 ranked UConn Huskies on Feb. 3. For tickets, fans can call 504-861-WAVE (9283), or visit the ticket office in person at the Wilson Athletics Center located on Ben Weiner Drive.
