Tulane University
16-7 (7-4)
Houston
5-17 (1-10)
WBB Toughs Out 59-56 Road Win at Houston
Feb 6, 2016 | Women's Basketball
HOUSTON - The Tulane women's basketball team (16-7, 7-4) got back in the win column on Saturday afternoon when they completed their regular season sweep of the Houston Cougars (5-17, 1-10), earning a tough 59-56 road victory inside Hofheinz Pavilion in the final minute. Kolby Morgan led the Green Wave with 20 points which included a three-pointer with 22 seconds left, extending Tulane's lead to two possessions.
"We came out from halftime and got our largest lead, coming out with great energy, and then we kind of relaxed," Tulane women's basketball head coach Lisa Stockton said. "I really thought our lead could have increased but Houston came back and we turned the ball over, which was especially key in the final quarter."
Picking up at the 3:29 mark in the first quarter, the Olive and Blue produced a 13-0 run, which included a 4-for-4 start from the field to begin the second period, garnering a 19-7 lead in the process. By the time Houston got back on the board with their ninth point, the Wave defense had held them scoreless for eight minutes, 11 seconds, and without a field goal for over 11 minutes and 31 seconds (UH missing 16 straight FG's). Tulane then rode that momentum into a 25-16 halftime lead.
The Green Wave started the second half by knocking down their first three shots, resulting in an 8-0 run and their largest lead of the game at 33-16. However, Houston fought back, countering with a 16-5 run to end the third period, cutting the deficit to 38-32.
In a game that featured many back-and-forth runs, it was no different in the final quarter, as Tulane utilized a 10-3 stretch to push their lead back up to 52-41. Yet, the Cougars would not go away, countering again with an 11-3 run to make it a one possession game (55-52) with 46 seconds remaining.
Morgan then answered the call for the Green Wave, knocking down a clutch three from the corner with 22 seconds left to push the lead to a two possession game at 58-52, before Tierra Jones tacked on a free-throw to eventually produce the final score of 59-56.
Morgan's effort marked her sixth 20+ scoring performance this season and eighth in her career. The sophomore shot 7-of-15 from the field and 3-of-7 from beyond the arc. Freshman Taylor Emery and senior Jones also collected double-digit points for the Wave with 11 and 10, respectively.
Emery tallied nine of her 11 points in the second half, going 5-of-9 from the floor, along with earning five rebounds, two assists and three steals. Fellow freshman Harlyn Wyatt also shone in her first start with Tulane, leading the Wave with seven rebounds to go along with her eight points.
Up next, the Green Wave will spend their Fat Tuesday in Tampa, where they'll engage in a rematch with No. 19 South Florida. The two previously matched up in New Orleans on Jan. 13, where the Wave fell in the final seconds via the score of 71-67.
"I think it's a matter of just getting our mind right," Stockton explained. "South Florida is a really good team and are now coming off of a loss. We should have some confidence that we can match them, but they're a tough team to play if you don't come to play for 40 minutes."
