USF Holds Off Tulane, 65-61

NEW ORLEANS, La.– Lakethia Hampton recorded her third double-double of the season, but the Tulane women’s basketball team could not overcome an eight-point halftime deficit as the Wave fell to USF, 65-61, Friday night at Fogelman Arena.

The Bulls went on a 26-7 run early in the first to build a 26-9 lead, but Tulane whittled the lead down to six with 2:24 left in the opening frame as D’Aundra Henry hit a 10-foot jumper. USF scored on its next two possessions and headed to the break with an eight-point lead, 35-27.

Hampton and the Wave went on an 8-0 run to tie the game at the 17:30 mark. After the Bulls went up by four, Alendra Brown hit a rebound bucket and then tied the game on the next possession after receiving an over-the-back pass from senior guard Kinya Lennix. Henry gave Tulane a brief lead, 44-42, by picking up a steal and sprinting down the floor for a lay-up.

After the teams exchanged baskets, USF jumped ahead, 56-50, behind seven points by Jessica Dickson, who had a game-high 20 points on the night. Tulane brought the score back to within one on a Henry jumper with 3:34 left at 57-56. But the Bulls hit six-of-eight free throws down the stretch to seal the win, 65-61.

“Our defense was much better tonight. We did a pretty good job, but Dickson just made some plays. In that last three minutes we really needed to execute our offense,” Tulane coach Lisa Stockton said. “Not being able to execute or get the ball in the hands of the people we wanted to have it really hurt us. We improved our rebounding and our defense, but we committed too many turnovers, which is something we haven’t done lately.”

Hampton’s double-double came on 19 points and 10 rebounds. Henry added 16 for Tulane, while Jami Montagnino tied a career high with seven rebounds.

Dickson paced the Bulls (16-9, 6-5) with 20 points while Rachael Sheats added nine.

The Wave (10-13, 2-8) out-rebounded USF, 51-28, 20 of which came off of the offensive glass.

Tulane returns to action Sunday, Feb. 13, when UAB visits Fogelman Arena for a 2 p.m. contest. Tickets are available at the door or by calling 504-861-WAVE. For fans not able to attend, the game will be broadcast live on the flagship radio station of Tulane women’s basketball, WRBH 88.3 FM.

--www.tulanegreenwave.com—