Tulane University
15-10, 6-6AAC
USF
20-4, 9-2
Women’s Hoops Falls 66-56 in Hard Fought Battle at USF
Feb 12, 2017 | Women's Basketball
Kolby Morgan earns second straight double-double
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TAMPA – The (-/RV) Tulane women's basketball team (15-10, 6-6) fought hard for all 40 minutes but couldn't edge past No. 22/23 USF (20-4, 9-2), falling 66-56 on Sunday afternoon. Trailing by 13 points in the second quarter, the Green Wave rallied to cut the deficit to one point early in the third, and again cut a 13-point disadvantage to six points in the fourth, but ultimately couldn't keep the momentum rolling for the win.
Kolby Morgan earned her second straight double-double, and third in five games, with 21 points and 10 rebounds today. Leslie Vorpahl followed right behind with 19 points and five assists.
"I thought we really battled defensively," Tulane head coach Lisa Stockton stated. "We pressed more than what we have in a long time and really got USF out of swing, but a couple plays here and there cost us. I thought Caylah Cruickshank did a great job in the starting lineup today and put a lot of pressure on them with her."
The Wave's defense help off-set a cold shooting start as Tulane trailed 13-9 at the end of the first quarter. The Bulls later built their largest lead of the game behind 15 first half points from Kitija Laksa, up 30-17 with 2:17 to go till half. That's when Morgan and Vorpahl combined for an 8-0 run via a pair of three's over the next 1:12, before sending Tulane into the locker-room down just 31-25.
Tulane then started the third quarter on a 5-0 run thanks to another Vorpahl three-pointer, cutting the deficit to one at 31-30. A Latham jumper at 5:27 kept it a one-possession game at 35-32, but the Wave then suffered a 5:20 scoring drought. As a result, the Bulls went on a 10-0 run before a pair of Morgan free-throws ended the streak as USF led 45-34 at the end of the third.
USF later matched its largest lead, going up 56-43 at 6:40 in the fourth, but Tulane continued to fight back, chipping away by producing a 12-6 run, which was capped by Vorpahl's season high fifth three-pointer, cutting it to 62-56 with 54 seconds left on the clock. However, the Bulls hit their free-throws down the stretch to keep the Wave at bay, closing out the 66-56 win.
Up next, the Green Wave will try to secure a season sweep of Cincinnati when they host the Bearcats on Wednesday, Feb. 15, at 7 p.m. CT.
