Tulane University
10-4, 1-1Americ
Memphis
6-6, 1-1America
Women's Hoops Falls 83-67 at Memphis
Jan 3, 2016 | Women's Basketball
MEMPHIS - Seven is the number in which the Tulane women's basketball team's (10-4, 1-1) winning streak came to halt, as Memphis emerged with an 83-67 victory over the Green Wave on Sunday inside the Elma Roane Fieldhouse. Four Tulane players finished with double-digit points but the Wave surrendered the most points scored against them all season.
"We just didn't come out with great energy," Tulane women's basketball head coach Lisa Stockton explained. "I thought we came out very lethargic. Memphis did a great job. Defense is something we've been able to hang our hat on but just didn't do a great job."
Tulane struggled to find its rhythm in the early goings, committing six turnovers in the opening period, but still only found themselves down 19-18 by the conclusion of the first quarter. The Green Wave's free throw shooting kept them close for the majority of the second quarter, finishing the half 10-of-12 from the line. However, over the last 4:25 of the period, the Wave suffered a 4:25 scoring drought, allowing the Tigers to build an 8-0 run to end the quarter and a 42-31 halftime lead.
The Green Wave came out firing in the third quarter, starting the period 7-of-11 from the field; however, Memphis matched them shot-for-shot, also starting 7-of-11, to maintain a 12-point lead.
Next, Memphis created some distance by recording an 8-0 run to begin the fourth quarter, building their largest lead of the game at 69-52. Yet, Tulane continued to fight down the stretch, forcing four quick Memphis turnovers, resulting in an 8-2 Wave run to cut it to 76-65. However, time was not on the Wave's side as Memphis closed out the game, 83-67.
"Defensively, we've played some good teams where we've been able to get some hands in their face and slow down their offense, and we just didn't do that tonight," Stockton added. "We just didn't have that extra gear to really stop them. Our decisions on offense weren't that great in the first half, and in the second half we did a much better job but when you're in a double-digit hole, it's hard to get out of."
Kolby Morgan finished with a team best 15 points on 5-of-12 shooting, marking the ninth team this year she's led the squad in scoring. Both Chinwe Duru and Courtnie Latham recorded 12 points each, marking their sixth and fifth double-figure games, respectively. Finally, Taylor Emery rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points and a career and team best seven rebounds.
Tulane outrebounded Memphis 32-28 but the Tigers shot 50.8 percent from the field compared to the Wave's 39.7 percent. The Tigers also enjoyed a 40-30 points in the paint advantage over Tulane.
Up next, the Wave will finish up their first conference road trip by heading east to Greenville, North Carolina, to take on the East Carolina Pirates on Tuesday, Jan. 5, at 6 p.m. CT, streaming live on the American Digital Network.
