Green Wave Women’s Basketball drops Tulane Classic opener against Old Dominion

Green Wave could not come from behind in a close game against the Monarchs

NEW ORLEANS – Tulane women’s basketball (7-3) dropped a hard-fought 56-48 decision to Old Dominion (8-2) in the first round of the 23rd annual Tulane Classic at Avron B. Fogelman Arena in the Devlin Fieldhouse on Friday afternoon.

The Green Wave’s loss was their first in six games at home this year and seven overall dating back to last season. The loss was Tulane’s first in the Tulane Classic since 2007, snapping a 22-game winning streak in its annual home tournament.

Sophomore forward Krystal Freeman led all Tulane scorers as she poured in 9 points on 3-of-6 shooting from the floor. Freeman also pulled down a game-high eight rebounds.

Fellow sophomore Kaila Anderson also turned in a strong scoring performance for the Green Wave as she finished with 8 points, marking the third time this season she has scored 8 or more.

The Green Wave also received a strong output from their bench, as the bench outscored the Monarchs 19-12. Seniors Tatyana Lofton and Meredith Schulte and freshman Dynah Jones combined to score 16 of Tulane’s 19 bench points.

Both teams struggled from the floor as neither squad shot above 35 percent (ODU, 33.3 percent; Tulane, 32.7). Tulane trailed for a majority of the game but remained close throughout.

Tulane trailed by just 5 points (27-20) heading into the locker room at halftime despite shooting just 36.4 percent from the floor and suffering 13 first-half miscues.

Coming out of the locker room, ODU extended its lead to 8 thanks to Victoria Morris’ 3-pointer, but the Green Wave responded in a big way by going on an 11-2 run to give them a 33-32 lead with 5:36 to go in the third quarter. Anderson keyed the run for Tulane, as she connected on a pair of 3-pointers.

Tulane’s one-point lead would not last for long as ODU reclaimed the lead immediately after a timeout and would not trail for the remainder of the game. The Green Wave remained within striking distance, as they trailed by no more than 6 points for the rest of the period and for much of the fourth quarter.

Down the stretch, Tulane was not able to overcome turnovers, missed layups and Old Dominion offensive rebounds that kept the Monarchs in command.

The Green Wave return to action on Saturday as they take on Texas State in the Tulane Classic consolation game. Tipoff is set for noon. Old Dominion will take on Saint Mary’s at 2 p.m. for the Tulane Classic crown.

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