Clark caps off Tulane’s 18-point comeback win at Washington, 64-62

Junior Arsula Clark knocked down a shot at the buzzer to complete the Tulane University women’s basketball team’s 18-point comeback in the 64-62 win at Washington.

Clark knocked down a turn-around jumper to cut the Huskies’ lead to one with a minute left. After a defensive stop for the Green Wave, junior Kaila Anderson knocked down two free throws to give Tulane a 61-60 lead. On the ensuing Washington possession, junior Sierra Cheatham forced a turnover and was fouled. She made one-of-two at the line to give the Green Wave a 62-60 lead. Washington tied the game at 62 with five seconds remaining.

Clark took the Tulane inbounds pass and drove to the right side of the basket and knocked down a layup with 0.5 seconds remaining to give the Green Wave the 64-62 win.

“I just felt electricity through my body,” Clark said. “I was just screaming; the bench was screaming. We were all so hyped. We had to play defense for a second, but I was so excited.”

Tulane (2-0) out-rebounded Washington (1-1) 44-38 and out-shot the Huskies 40.4 (23-57) percent-37.7 (26-69) percent from the field. The Green Wave logged 11 assists and eight steals on the day. Clark led the Olive and Blue with 18 points and added five rebounds, two assists and three steals. Cheatham chipped in 16 points, five points and two steals. Freshman Irina Parau was tops on the team with eight rebounds and scored 12 points.

“We just had to get some baskets and I really thought we did a great job of penetrating and trying to get inside and kicking it,” Green Wave head coach Lisa Stockton said. “Sierra [Cheatham] hit some key buckets there. Su [Arsula Clark] did a tremendous job. We knew they were going to be in a zone and we put all of our shooters out there. She saw the seam and I give her all the credit for that one”

The Huskies stretched their lead to 18 in the third quarter before the Green Wave closed the period with a 4-0 run to cut the score to 51-37. Washington led 55-39 then the Green Wave went on an 18-5 run to cut the lead to 60-57 with 1:29 remaining in the game.

In the first half, both teams traded runs in the first quarter with the Green Wave taking a after the first. Washington went on a 13-5 run to start the second quarter and take a 27-19 lead. The Huskies brought a 31-22 lead into halftime.

Tulane held a 21-19 rebound advantage in the first half. Parau led Tulane with five points at the break.

Up next, the Green Wave will return to Avron B. Fogelman Arena in Devlin Fieldhouse as they host Middle Tennessee State on Nov. 14 at 7 p.m.

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