Morgan scores 21, Wyatt gets double-double in Tulane Women’s Hoops win over UNO

NEW ORLEANS – Kolby Morgan moved up to fourth all-time in team history in scoring and Tulane women’s basketball players had career highs all over the court as the Green Wave defeated local rival New Orleans 79-56 at Avron B. Fogelman Arena in the Devlin Fieldhouse on Tuesday night.

Morgan led Tulane (5-4) with 21 points, and with her 11th point of the night passed Keisha Johnson for fourth in Green Wave history with 1,824 in her career. She finished the contest with 1,834 and is now 43 away from third all-time at Tulane.

But it wasn’t just Morgan who had a special night. Junior Harlyn Wyatt posted 10 points and a career-high 15 rebounds, recording the first double-double of the season for Tulane. Her rebounds also put her over 200 defensive boards for her career, and she got to 400 career points on the night as well.

Senior Caylah Cruickshank scored a career-best 13 points as well, surpassing her previous best of 9. Cruickshank knocked down three 3-pointers in the victory.

Tulane’s other double-figure scorer was Meredith Schulte, who just missed a double-double with 13 points and eight rebounds.

Kayla Manuirirangi had a team-high five assists while Morgan had four and freshman Sierra Cheatham recorded three. Ksenija Madzarevic tied a career high with four blocks, and Morgan, Wyatt and Krystal Freeman all had two blocks apiece.

While the final score indicates a big victory for the Green Wave, Tuesday’s contest was much closer through the first half. The Green Wave entered the second quarter with a narrow 18-15 lead and were up by just 1 point early in the second quarter. It wasn’t until late in the first half that Tulane went ahead by double figures.

In the third quarter, though, the Green Wave took control for good. Leading 49-39 early in the period, Tulane went on a 10-0 run that included two Morgan baskets, four Morgan free throws and a Tene Thompson layup. That put the team’s lead at 20, and UNO never got closer than 17 again.

The Green Wave stay at home for another contest against a regional rival on Sunday when LSU comes to Fogelman in Devlin. The game, which will air locally on Cox Sports TV, is set for 2 p.m.