Women's Basketball to Open Conference Play at No. 25/24 USF

Sunday, December 31

Tampa, Fla.

11 a.m.

Tulane University

USF

Women's Basketball to Open Conference Play at No. 25/24 USF

Dec 29, 2017 | Women's Basketball

GAME 14: TULANE GREEN WAVE (8-5) at No. 25/24 USF BULLS (10-3)
When:	Sunday, Dec. 31 \| 11 a.m. CST
Where:	Tampa, Florida \| Sun Dome
Watch:	ESPNU
Radio:	WRBH 88.3 FM \| Listen Online
Live Scoring:	Sidearm Stats
Notes:	Tulane
Social:	@GreenWaveWBB

NEW ORLEANS – Following its longest break of the season, the Green Wave women's basketball team is back this weekend to start American Athletic Conference play. Tulane will face No. 25/24 USF in Tampa, Florida on Sunday with tipoff scheduled for 11 a.m. central.

Tulane fans can watch the game live on ESPNU. The game will also be broadcast on the radio in New Orleans on WRBH 88.3 FM.

STARTING FIVE
1.   Tulane won its home holiday tournament, the Tulane Classic, for the 10th consecutive season when it last played. The Green Wave defeated Troy 106-75 and then beat UTEP 67-56 in the championship game.
2.   Kolby Morgan was named the MVP of the Tulane Classic for the second straight year after averaged 27 points, seven assists and five rebounds in those two games. She was also named the Louisiana Sports Writers Association Player of the Week and earned a spot on the AAC Honor Roll for her efforts.
3.   The Green Wave is currently on a season-long, three-game winning streak. The streak dates back to a 62-44 victory over Middle Tennessee on December 17. All three games in the current streak were double-digit wins. Tulane's average margin of victory on the streak is 20 points.
4.   During the last week, Kolby Morgan eclipsed 1,900 points in her career and moved up to third all-time in Tulane history for total points. She is the nation's sixth-leading active scorer.
5.   Since joining the AAC for the 2014-15 season, the Green Wave holds a 29-23 record in conference play. Tulane has finished fifth in the league standings during all three of its seasons. The Green Wave has never defeated the Bulls since the teams became conference rivals.

SERIES HISTORY – USF
•   Tulane has a long history against USF dating back to 1992. In the teams' 35 combined games against one another, the Green Wave holds a 19-16 lead.
•   Since Tulane joined the American Athletic Conference for the 2014-15 season, USF has won all eight games between the two sides.
•   Last season, USF defeated the Green Wave by a 62-53 score in New Orleans and a 66-56 score in Tampa.
•   USF has won eight straight games against the Green Wave and 11 of the last 12 dating back to 2005.

SCOUTING THE BULLS
•   The Bulls, who are from Tampa, Florida, have a 10-3 record this year and are ranked in both national polls. USF is No. 25 in the AP Poll and No. 24 in the Coaches Poll.
•   The Bulls are led by Kitija Laksa and her 22.8 points per game. They also have four other players averaging double-figure scoring this year: Maria Jespersen (16.4 ppg), Laura Ferreira (12.5), Alyssa Rader (10.8) and Laia Flores (10.2).
•   Jespersen is the team's top rebounder, averaging 9.7 boards per game. And Flores leads the way in passing with 6.5 assists per game.
•   As a team, USF ranks seventh in the nation in made 3-pointers per game (128) and 11th in 3-pointers per game (9.8). The Bulls are also among the best in the country in not turning the ball over, ranking 10th in fewest turnovers per game (11.8).

TULANE IN THE AAC
Since joining the AAC for the 2014-15 season, the Green Wave holds a 29-23 record in conference play. Tulane has finished fifth in the league standings during all three of its seasons. Sunday will mark the start of Tulane's fourth season in the league after spending the previous 19 seasons in Conference USA.

LSWA PLAYER OF THE WEEK
For the second time this year, the Louisiana Sports Writer's Association has recognized Kolby Morgan for her tremendous play. After scoring a combined 54 points in two games last week – reaching 1,900 career points in the process – in two Tulane wins, Morgan was named the LSWA's Player of the Week on Tuesday. Morgan was previously honored by the LSWA earlier this year, earning the organization's Player of the Month award for her stellar play in November.

TULANE CLASSIC CHAMPS
The Green Wave just won the 22nd edition of the Tulane Classic. Dating back to 1996, Tulane has won 19 of the 22 tournaments including 10 straight. The Green Wave's cumulative record in the Tulane Classic is 41-3. Kolby Morgan was named MVP of this year's Tulane Classic for the second consecutive year.

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Besides Morgan being named the Tulane Classic MVP, the Green Wave also had two other players earn spots on the All-Tournament Team – Kayla Manuirirangi and Meredith Schulte. Manuirirangi had 8 points, five assists and a career-best six rebounds on December 22 to go along with her 19 points from December 21. Schulte had a tremendous defensive game on December 22 and recorded 12 points, six rebounds and three steals while competing against two of UTEP's post players who are 6-foot-2 and 6-foot-4.

STEALS INTO POINTS
Tulane was able to convert steals into points in its win over UTEP on December 22. The Green Wave got 10 steals against the Miners and earned 22 points off 18 UTEP turnovers. Tulane was also quick to get out on the fast break after turnovers, recording 15 fast-break points to UTEP's 3. Tulane has had 15 fast-break points in back-to-back games, its highest fast-break total all season.

MORGAN UP TO THIRD
With her 13th point of the December 21 win over Troy, Kolby Morgan moved up to third all-time in Tulane history in points. Morgan surpassed Carmen Jones and her 1,876 career points, and Morgan now has 1,918 points in her career. To move up to second all-time at Tulane, Morgan will first need to break the 2,000-point barrier and then catch Stacey Gaudet and her 2,080 points.

SHE'S NUMBER SIX
Tulane senior guard Kolby Morgan finds herself near the top of the nation's active career scorers list. With 1,918 points in her career as of Wednesday morning, Morgan is the seventh-highest scoring active player in the nation.

Morgan is also ninth in the nation among active players in field goal attempts, 11th in field goals made, 17th in points per game, 20th in steals and 20th in 3-pointers made.

WHERE MORGAN RANKS THIS YEAR
Morgan is already having a stellar year for Tulane, ranking in the top 50 in the nation in multiple categories. As of Wednesday morning, Morgan is 8th in the country in total points with 284, 13th in points per game at 21.8, 14th in 3-pointers made with 41, 27th in 3-pointers per game with 3.15, 13th in made field goals with 96 and 20th field goal attempts with 203.

MORGAN CHASING A RECORD
Senior guard Kolby Morgan has many talents as a basketball player, but she is best known for her scoring ability. Morgan is now just 341 points shy of the Tulane scoring record held by Grace Daley. If Tulane plays 18 more games on the year, Morgan would break the program record by averaging 18.9 points per game. If Tulane plays 20 more games this year – the same as it did in 2016-17 – Morgan could break the program record with 17.1 points per game. As a junior, she scored 19.7 points per game. She is averaging 21.8 points per game this year.

CLOSING IN ON 700 WINS
Since the Tulane women's basketball team came into existence in 1975, the team has compiled an impressive 692 victories. If Tulane reached 16 wins this year – a number it has reached for the last 11 seasons in a row – the Green Wave will reach 700 wins in their history.

CAREER NUMBERS WATCH
Against UTEP:
•   Kolby Morgan scored her 1,900th career point.
•   Sierra Cheatham scored her 50th career point.
Coming up soon:
•   Kaila Anderson needs 7 more points for 50.
•   Tene Thompson needs two more rebounds for 200.
•   Meredith Schulte will reach 300 rebounds with three more and 400 points with 15 more.

NEXT UP
The Green Wave's road trip through the AAC continues on Wednesday when it travels to Tulsa to take on the Golden Hurricane. Tipoff at the Reynolds Center is scheduled for 11 a.m.