Tulane University
16-8, 7-5AAC
USF
17-6, 10-3AAC
WBB Drops 77-65 Battle at No. 22/20 USF
Feb 9, 2016 | Women's Basketball
TAMPA - The Tulane women's basketball team (16-8, 7-5) waged another battle vs. No. 22/20 South Florida (17-6, 10-3) in Tampa on Tuesday night, but the Bulls were able to stave off the Green Wave's fourth quarter comeback to prevail with the 77-65 win. Sophomore guard Kolby Morgan scored a career high 30 points on a career best 11-for-27 from the field, including a 5-for-12 mark from three-point range. Morgan's performance marked the first Green Wave 30+ point effort since Danielle Nunn tallied 37 points at Oral Roberts back on March 21, 2011.
"I thought we had tremendous effort in the second half," Tulane women's basketball head coach Lisa Stockton stated. "Our kids came out and really played hard. It definitely was an impressive performance by Kolby Morgan. Her ability to score from three and take it to the rim was really impressive."
Tulane and USF were all tied at 12-apiece at the 2:19 mark in the first quarter, but that was when the Bulls pushed ahead thanks to a 9-2 run to end the opening period, garnering a 21-14 lead. Tulane continued to shoot well and take care of the ball in the second quarter, recording a .438 shooting percentage with just four turnovers by half; yet, USF maintained its lead by excelling from three-point range, knocking down 7-of-13 over the first two quarters, along with boasting a 23-11 rebounding differential that ultimately led to a 40-30 Bulls halftime lead.
Flash forward to 1:42 left in the third quarter and the Bulls had their largest lead of the game after an 11-2 run, up 57-36. Yet, the Wave continued to fight as they eventually cut the deficit to 61-53 with six minutes remaining.
However the Bulls, who entered tonight with a .788 free-throw percentage, kept the Green Wave at bay in the final minutes by executing from the free-throw line, knocking down 10 to finish 18-of-22 for the game. Keep in mind, the Wave, who took 67 shots in the game, didn't get to the free-throw line until the 2:25 mark in the fourth quarter, finishing just 4-for-4 on the game.
Joining Morgan in double figures tonight was junior guard Courtnie Latham, who contributed 10 points on 5-of-12 shooting from the floor. Rebounding wise, Tierra Jones led the Wave with 11 boards to go along with her six points, marking her third double-digit rebounding performance on the year and sixth of her career.
Senior Courtney Williams once again paced USF's attack with 18 points on a 7-for-20 night, followed by Kiitija Laksa's 14 points which were powered by four three-pointers. Meanwhile, senior Alisia Jenkins came one rebound shy of her career high with 20 boards tonight.
"In the first half we just couldn't stop them, and we did a much better job of that in the second half and were able to convert as well," Stockton added. "It's a disappointing loss for us but I'm really happy with the effort. It was good to see our kids fight to that last buzzer."
Up next, the Green Wave return home to New Orleans for one game, hosting SMU on Sunday, Feb. 14, at 2 p.m. CT, once again live on The American Digital Network. The contest will mark Tulane's Play 4Kay Pink Game, in which the Wave will don their special pink uniforms in honor of breast cancer awareness.
