Sunday, November 14
Oklahoma State 67, SMU 50
Sydne Wiggins scored a game-high 14 points and Savannah Wilkinson posted her second straight double-double, but it wasn't enough to lift the SMU women's basketball team to victory Sunday. The Mustangs dropped to 1-1 with a 67-50 loss to Oklahoma State in Moody Coliseum.
The Cowgirls (1-1) ended the first quarter on a 9-0 run to take a 17-8 lead after the first 10 minutes, which saw the Mustangs make just three field goals. SMU bounced back in the second quarter, shooting 45.5 percent from the field.
However, Oklahoma State made 7-of-17 attempts to maintain the advantage, leading 37-19 at halftime. The second half saw SMU outscore Oklahoma State 31-30, but the Mustangs couldn't overcome the first-half deficit.
Oklahoma State shot 39.1 percent overall, while SMU finished with a 34.9 shooting percentage. The Cowgirls finished with 46 rebounds to SMU's 37. One of the biggest differences in the game was outside the arc, where Oklahoma State made nine 3-pointers while the Mustangs went just 1-for-13.
Tulane 69, Alabama 66
Tulane University women's basketball team held off Alabama at the buzzer to win its first road test of the season 69-66 in Coleman Coliseum Sunday afternoon.
Four of the five starters for the Green Wave posted double digits in the scoring column as Dynah Jones led the way with 15 points on 5-of-11 shooting from the field along with two steals. Krystal Freeman followed with her first double-double of the season with14 points and 11 rebounds. Moon Ursin finished a rebound shy of a double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds while Arsula Clark added 11 points and five assists. Despite not putting up double digits on the scoreboard, Mia Heide made an impact in the paint collecting seven rebounds and four blocked shots.
After a hot shooting first quarter by Alabama, Tulane clamped down defensively to hold the Tide to just 34 percent shooting from the field. The Green Wave dominated the painted area on both ends of the floor outscoring the Tide 30-18 and posting a 47-32 rebound advantage.
Tulane got the first bucket of the contest, but Alabama knocked down its first three shots from downtown to hold the early advantage. The Crimson Tide shot 83.3 percent from beyond the arc to take control of the opening period and maintain a 26-14 lead at the break.
The Green Wave turned the tide in the second quarter thanks to a spark off the bench from redshirt senior Sierra Cheatham. The Houston native scored a quick five points as Tulane went on an 8-0 run to start the period. A layup by Freeman with 2:21 on the clock pulled the game to a tie at 29-29 with 2:21 on the clock. The Olive and Blue outscored Alabama 17-8 in the period to hit the locker trailing 31-34.
In the third quarter, Tulane traded baskets with the Tide until back-to-back buckets from Jones and Clark gave the Wave its first lead since 4-3 in the first period. The Green Wave pushed its advantage to five at 45-40 with 4:11 to play before ending the period with a tight 50-49 lead.
Alabama knotted the score twice in the final quarter, but the Green Wave responded with five unanswered before eventually stretching the lead to 69-63 with 48 seconds to play. The Tide cut it to three with just over 30 seconds remaining, but the Tulane defense stood up to the challenge not allowing Alabama to get a shot off before the final buzzer. The Wave picked up its first road win of the season holding off Alabama 69-66.
Memphis 89, SIUE 58
The Tigers moved to 2-0 to start the season after downing the Cougars of SIUE 89-58 inside Elma Roane Fieldhouse today.
Memphis opened the game with buckets on their first two possessions down the court from Alana Davis and Emani Jefferson. SIUE would make a mini comeback after made baskets from Ajulu Thatha and Allie Troeckler, but the Tigers would not let them hang around for long.
After a 6-0 run from Jefferson and Tyler Frierson, Memphis would extend their lead out to as much as eight before taking a 16-9 lead heading into the second quarter of play.
The Tigers offense would continue to shine in the second quarter, pushing their lead out to as much as 16 after Lanetta Williams sank a 10-foot jumper on the baseline with 1:20 left in the half. The Cougars would add in made free-throws from Mikayla Hall and Gabby Nikitinaite before the buzzer to make it a 36-25 Memphis lead going into the half.
Memphis would cruise in the third quarter, extending their lead out to as much as 32 thanks to a 19-3 run to close out the third quarter. The Tigers would take the 69-40 lead into the final 10 minutes of play.
It was all Memphis in the fourth quarter; the Tigers would push their lead back out to over 30 before securing the 89-58 win.
Emani Jefferson led all players with 20 points and seven rebounds while Maya Stovall recorded her first double-digit performance with 10 points while also grabbing six boards.
As a team, Memphis shot over 40% from the field and sank 27 free-throws in the process.