Freeman, Cheatham, Manuirirangi Score Big in Win Over Tigers

Thursday, November 8

New Orleans

7 p.m.

Tulane University

1-0

Texas Southern

0-1

Texas Southern

Tulane

Photo by: Parker Waters

Freeman, Cheatham, Manuirirangi Score Big in Win Over Tigers

Nov 8, 2018 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery Tulane-Texas Southern Box Score

NEW ORLEANS – Lisa Stockton's 25th season is off to a winning start.

Sophomores Krystal Freeman and Sierra Cheatham had the best scoring games of their career, and classman Kaila Anderson had a career-best nine assists in a 62-56 season-opening win over Texas Southern at Avron B. Fogelman Arena in the Devlin Fieldhouse on Thursday night.

Freeman, who averaged just 1.9 points per game as a freshman, erupted for 16 points on 8 of 9 shooting while Cheatham struck for 17 points, all but two on 3-pointers. Their previous career highs in scoring were 6 and 14, respectively.

Following a sloppy first half with 16 turnovers, Tulane's offense really got going in the second half. Freeman had 4 points at halftime but had 8 in the third quarter alone as Tulane built a double-digit lead. And whenever Texas Southern seemed sure to close the gap, Cheatham or Kayla Manuirirangi – who finished with 14 points – hit a 3-pointer to give the Green Wave some more cushion.

Manuirirangi's 3-pointer with 3:40 left in the game made it a 60-52 lead for the Green Wave, seemingly giving Tulane enough cushion. But the Tigers would not go away and got the game as close as 4 points with 42 seconds left.

From there, though, Texas Southern missed two straight 3-point attempts and had to foul Cheatham. The sophomore knocked down her two free-throw attempts and iced the win for Tulane.

Freeman, Cheatham and freshman Mia Heide all finished the night as Tulane's top rebounder with five boards. Cheatham and Manuirirangi tied for the team high in steals with two while Cheatham, Heide and senior Harlyn Wyatt – playing in her 100th game – had a block each.

The first quarter was a tight affair as neither team could build a significant lead. Cheatham hit two 3-pointers in the period to lead Tulane with 6 points, but the teams were tied at 17-17 after 10 minutes.

In the second quarter, neither team could get its offense going as turnovers plagued both sides. Texas Southern committed 11 turnovers in the second quarter while Tulane coughed up the ball 12 times, making the period uneven. The Green Wave managed to outscore the Tigers by 2 in the quarter, though, and took a 26-24 lead into halftime.

The third quarter is where Tulane really established itself. The Green Wave scored 19 points in the period, going on a 10-7 run to begin the quarter and extend its lead to a then-game-high 5 points. Freeman continued to pound the ball on the inside and Cheatham hit a late 3-pointer to give Tulane an 8-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Getting involved in the action was freshman Dynah Jones, who picked up a start in her first career game. Jones became the first Tulane freshman to start in a season opener since Courtnie Latham started the season opener against UNO in 2013. Jones had 2 points in her debut.

Freshman Erin Gutierrez played 10 minutes off the bench, scoring 4 points including two from the free-throw line. She added a rebound and two assists in her first game with the Olive and Blue.

Tulane has a full week off before its second game of the year when it travels just 90 minutes away to Baton Rouge to face LSU. The Green Wave and Tigers are set for a 6:30 p.m. tipoff on SEC Network+ at 6:30 p.m. next Thursday.