Wednesday, February 23
Tulane 67, SMU 58
The Tulane University women's basketball team used a 17-6 run in the final eight minutes of the game to shoot past SMU Wednesday afternoon and pick up a 67-58 win over the Mustangs inside Avron B. Fogelman Arena in the Devlin Fieldhouse.
Tulane's win over SMU gave the Green Wave their eighth straight win on the year and seventh straight league win. The Green Wave's seven straight league wins are the most for Tulane since joining the American Athletic Conference back in the 2014-15.
Junior guard Dynah Jones scored a career-high 25 points to lead all scorers. Ten of Jones' points came in the final period, as she went 3-of-4 from the field and was a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line.
Joining Jones in double figures were seniors Krystal Freeman and Arsula Clark, as they finished with 16 and 12 points, respectively.
As a team, Tulane continued its strong defensive play, as it held SMU to just 2-of-15 shooting from beyond the arc. SMU's 58-point effort marked the 10th time this season Tulane has held an opponent under 60 points.
The Green Wave also held a 42-37 edge on the glass. Freeman led the way with a game and season-high 15 rebounds. Senior Moon Ursin also chipped in with four assists.
The Green Wave held a slight edge at the half, as it led 35-34, but in the third quarter, SMU outscored Tulane 16-11. Tulane struggled from the field, as it was held to just 20.0 percent shooting from the floor.
In the final period, SMU opened up a six-point led (52-46), but it was all Green Wave from there as Tulane held the Mustangs to just six points for the remainder of the game.
Tulane connected a 40 percent clip in the final period and held SMU to just 16.7 percent shooting to secure the win.
Cincinnati 71, Memphis 58
The University of Cincinnati women's basketball team broke a five-game losing streak with a 71-58 win over Memphis on Wednesday night in Fifth Third Arena.
Graduate forward Arame Niang led the Bearcats on Senior Night with a new season- and career-high 19 points while adding three rebounds and two blocks. Junior point guard Akira Levy recorded 13 points and a team-leading 11 assists while sophomore guard Jillian Hayes added nine points, eight rebounds, three steals, and one block.
The Bearcats made 51 percent of their field goals while holding Memphis to only 29 percent. UC improves to 11-15 overall and 4-10 in American Athletic Conference play.
The Bearcats got off to a quick 11-2 start highlighted by Levy's three-point basket and three consecutive jumpers by Niang. Memphis would add two more layups and a two free throw shots, however junior forward Jadyn Scott and Hayes added two more jumpers and freshman guard Braylyn Milton a layup for the Bearcats to lead 18-10 at the end of the first quarter.
Memphis got things started quickly in the second quarter with a layup, but Niang and Levy got UC on the board with back-to-back layups. After a Memphis three-point basket, Niang continued a dominant first half for the senior with two more jumpers to extend the Bearcats lead to 26-15. Freshman forward Clarissa Craig and freshman wing Emerita Mashaire got on the board with driving layups, but the Tigers' three-point shot right at the buzzer made the score 34-31, closing the Bearcats lead heading into the half.
Memphis closed the gap even more off a layup and two free throw shots to start the third quarter, however the Bearcats added three more points from the charity stripe to maintain a 38-35 lead. Memphis' layup put the Tigers to within one, 38-37, however Craig's layup and Milton's back-to-back baskets extended the Bearcats' lead to 44-38. Niang added two more points, junior guard Caitlyn Wilson's three-point basket and Jadyn Scott's layup extended UC's lead at the end of three, 51-44.
It was all Bearcats in the fourth quarter, with layups by Hayes and Jadyn Scott and three-point baskets by Wilson and Levy to extend the lead to 61-48. In the final three minutes, Cincinnati and Memphis would both add 10 points each for UC to break their five-game losing streak with a 71-58 win over Memphis.
Houston 80, Temple 60
Four players recorded double-digit points in Houston's 80-60 win over Temple on Wednesday night in the Fertitta Center.
Laila Blair led the Cougars (13-13, 6-8 American) with 18 points, Bria Patterson followed with 13 points while Britney Onyeje and Tiara Young added 10 points each. Onyeje also contributed five steals while Jazmaine Lewis had seven assists.
After the first basket from Temple, the Cougars took control and held the lead throughout the first quarter. A 7-2 run from the Cougars boosted their lead and Houston ended the quarter ahead 19-15.
Temple put up a fight in the second quarter stringing together an 11-2 run taking the lead 26-23. But, Houston countered with an eight-point run to go ahead 31-26 and closed the quarter ahead 33-29.
Eight unanswered points opened the quarter for the Cougars to go ahead by double-digits 43-31. Temple brought the game within eight but Houston controlled the rest of the quarter with a 58-41 lead to end the quarter.
The Cougars continued to dominate in the fourth quarter as Houston scored four-straight 3-pointers. Four free throws pushed the Cougars to a 20 point lead and Houston ultimately took the win 80-60.