Tulane Falls to South Florida in AAC Opener

Friday, December 30

NEW ORLEANS

6:00 P.M.

Tulane University

10-4,0-1AAC

University of South Florida

12-4,1-0AAC

South Fla.

Tulane

Dec 30, 2022 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

NEW ORLEANS –Tulane University Women's Basketball fell short of a comeback victory to open American Athletic Conference competition as it dropped its league-opener 61-69 against South Florida (12-4, 1-0) on Friday night inside Avron B. Fogelman Arena in the Devlin Fieldhouse. The Green Wave battled with the Bulls around the rim tallying 34 points in the paint, but the glass made the difference as Tulane lost the rebounding contest 29-44.

With the loss, Tulane moves to 10-4 on the season and 0-1 in conference play. The loss also ends the Wave's five game winning streak.

Four players posted double figures in the scoring column for the Green Wave in the contest. Dynah Jones led the way with 18 points on 7-of-15 shooting to go with four assists and three rebounds. Anijah Grant followed with a career-high 15 points and pulled in five boards. Rounding out the leaders for the Wave were Kyren Whittington with 13 points and Marta Galic with 10.

The Bulls were led by Elena Tsineke with a game-high 25 points. Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu finished with a double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds while Sammie Puisis had 14 points and eight boards.

Tulane and South Florida battled back-and-forth throughout the opening quarter, but it was the Bulls who held the slight advantage in the frame. Jones led the Wave with seven points in the first quarter as Tulane trailed 15-18 after the first 10 minutes.

Galic gave the Green Wave its first lead of the contest at 22-21 just over two minutes into the second quarter. The two teams would exchange the lead four more times through the remainder of the frame. Grant got the final say of the half as she converted an and-one basket to put the Wave in front 29-28 heading into the locker room.

After trading buckets over the first two minutes of the third quarter, Jones gave the Green Wave its largest lead of the game with a three-pointer to go up 37-34. South Florida responded with a 15-3 run over the final seven minutes of the frame as Tulane faced a 40-49 deficit to begin the fourth.

Tulane chipped away at the Bulls' lead in the final frame cutting it to a three-point game on four different occasions. Unfortunately, the Wave was unable to break through that three-point barrier as South Florida converted from the free throw line down the stretch. The Green Wave ultimately lost the contest 61-69.

Up next, the Green Wave will welcome the Houston Cougars to town for another AAC matchup on Thursday. Tipoff between Tulane and the Cougars is set for 6 p.m.

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