Tulane University
16-11, 7-7
UConn
26-0, 13-0
Women’s Hoops Records Gutsy Performance in 63-60 Loss to No. 1 UConn
Feb 18, 2017 | Women's Basketball
Wave post second closest margin in UConn’s 101-game win streak
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NEW ORLEANS – The Tulane women's basketball team (16-11, 7-7) recorded one of its gutsiest performances in program history, taking No. 1 UConn (26-0, 13-0) to its limits on Saturday night in a 63-60 loss. The three-point loss is the second closest margin of defeat in UConn's 101-game win streak and marked the closest any American Athletic Conference team has gotten to taking down the Huskies in the history of the league.
Senior Leslie Vorpahl hit a three-pointer with 15 seconds left to cut the deficit to 62-60 before a UConn free-throw put the Huskies back up by three. Tulane had a chance to tie but couldn't get open on the in-bounds play as UConn picked off the pass and was fouled immediately.
Crystal Dangerfield missed both free-throws, allowing the Wave a chance to tie once more but the deep attempt from three didn't fall as the Huskies escaped New Orleans with the win streak in-tact.
"I'm just so proud of this group. We played everybody and everyone gave us something," Tulane head coach Lisa Stockton stated. "This team was really focused and didn't let anything get them down. We shot 20 percent in the first half and kept battling. Really proud of how tough we played. Disappointing because when you get that close you get a little greedy so it sure would have been nice to get that win."
Trailing 18-11 after the first, the Wave defense made a statement in the second as they kept the Huskies off the board for a seven minute stretch, while Tene Thompson and Kayla Manuirirangi combined for a 7-0. UConn's Crystal Dangerfield ended the drought with 26 seconds left, giving the Huskies a 28-18 halftime lead.
The Huskies then jumped out to its largest lead of the game in the third quarter, up 38-21 at the 7:35 mark. However, Tulane did not fold, fighting back with a 9-0 run. Fast forward to the end of the period and a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Vorpahl made it a 48-42 game with one quarter to go.
Tulane cut it to a two-point game three different times down the stretch, as a Courtnie Latham lay-up made it a 55-53 game with 4:20 to play, a Maddison Wells jumper made it 59-57 with 1:14 remaining and the Vorpahl three cut it to 62-60 with 15 seconds to go.
In the end, the Green Wave defense held UConn to a season low in both points and shooting percentage. However, a big difference maker tonight came at the free-throw line, where the Huskies enjoyed a 28-6 attempt differential.
Offensively, Morgan led the Wave with 19 points on 5-for-16 shooting while Vorpahl followed with 16 points, which included a 4-for-7 day from three-point range. In addition, Thompson recorded a career day with 14 points on 7-of-11 shooting and a team high six rebounds.
Up next, the Green Wave will celebrate Senior Day on Feb. 22 when they host UCF at 7 p.m.
