American Conference/ Ben Solomon

Women's Basketball

USF defeats Tulane 61-52 to Open Women’s Basketball Tournament

Champ Central
Postgame interview with USF coach Jose Fernandez and junior Tamara Henshaw
 
UNCASVILLE, Conn. – No. 5 seed USF will advance to its sixth-straight quarterfinal game after opening the 2019 American Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Championship with an 61-52 win over No. 12 seed Tulane at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., Friday afternoon. The Bulls will take on No. 4 seed Houston Saturday at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN3.  

 

Enna Pehadzic led the Bulls with a game-high 23 points. USF’s Tamara Henshaw also reached double-digits scoring with her fifth double-double this season (15 points and 15 rebounds). Krystal Freeman (16 points) and Dynah Jones (14 points) each reached double-figures in scoring for the Green Wave.
 
USF, which entered the tournament ranked No. 6 in the nation in total rebounds and rebound margin, led 39-33 in boards. Henshaw tied her career best with a game-high 15 rebounds.
 
Tulane used an early 6-0 run in the opening quarter, fueled by a pair of jumpers from Freeman to jump out to an 8-3 lead. The Bulls then responded with a 14-2 spurt through the final 3:43 to move out to a 17-10 advantage at the end of the first frame. However, the Green Wave stifled USF’s offense and tied the game at 28-28 at end of the first half, keeping USF without a basket through the final 4:04. Tulane outscored USF 18-11 in the second quarter and used a 6-0 run during the last two minutes with Kaila Anderson draining a buzzer-beater jumper.
 
The Bulls regained the lead (47-39) in the third quarter, shooting 47.1 percent, as Tamara Henshaw registered nine points (4-6) to power USF’s offense. Tulane briefly made it one-possession game (49-46) after using a 7-2 run to start the fourth. However, the Bulls’ defense held the Green Wave without a point through the next four minutes, while using a 9-0 run to extend their lead for good.
 
Fans can watch the entire tournament on ESPN platforms, including ESPN3, ESPNU and ESPN2.
 
For more information on and continuing coverage of the American Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Championship, please visit Championship Central at www.theamerican.org/wbb.