Stellar Defense by Tulane Sinks Pirates

Saturday, February 25

NEW ORLEANS

2:00 P.M.

Tulane University

17-11,7-8AAC

East Carolina University

20-9,11-5AAC

East Carolina

Tulane

Photo by: Parker Waters

Feb 25, 2023 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

NEW ORLEANS – A suffocating defensive effort delivered Tulane University Women's Basketball (17-11, 7-8) its fourth consecutive American Athletic Conference victory as it defeated East Carolina (20-9, 11-5) 64-56 in Avron B. Fogelman Arena in the Devlin Fieldhouse Saturday. The Green Wave forced the Pirates into 20 turnovers and converted those mistakes into 14 points on the other end of the floor.

Three players posted double figures in the scoring column for the Wave led by Kyren Whittington with 17 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the floor and a perfect 7-of-7 from the free throw line. Whittington also added six rebounds, three steals, and a pair of assists to her stat sheet. Kierra Middleton stayed hot as she poured in 15 points including three triples off the bench. Dynah Jones rounded out the top scorers for Tulane on her senior night adding 10 points and a game-high six assists.

The scoring for ECU was led by Danae McNeal with a game-high 24 points. Jayla Hearp was the only other player with double digits for the Pirates finishing with 11 points.

Tulane and ECU went back and forth to open the contest until the Green Wave went on a 7-1 run to claim a five-point lead. The Wave maintained the advantage the remainder of the frame thanks to a pair of triples from Middleton in the final minutes that gave Tulane a 20-16 lead at the end of the first.

In the second quarter the Wave turned up the defensive pressure holding the Pirates to just six points on 25.0 percent shooting. Tulane also took advantage of seven ECU turnovers in the frame to take a 32-22 advantage into the locker room.

The defensive intensity carried into the second half for the Green Wave as Tulane forced 10 more turnovers in the third. Those turnovers were converted into 10 points on the other end to help the Wave's lead reach as many as 17 points. Tulane also held the Pirates to 20.0 percent shooting from the floor in the quarter to ultimately hold a 48-32 lead heading into fourth.

ECU did not go down quietly putting together an 11-0 scoring run in the final frame to cut Tulane's lead down to five. Marta Galic put the push by the Pirates to a halt with a three-pointer with 3:43 remaining. The Wave pushed its lead back out to double figures before holding off ECU for the 64-56 victory.

Up next, the Green Wave will finish the regular season on the road against Memphis next Wednesday. Tipoff between Tulane and the Tigers is set for 7 p.m. CT on ESPN+.

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