Tulane’s comeback bid falls short at Memphis, 64-62

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Tulane University women’s basketball team fell 64-62 on Tuesday night at Memphis.

Tulane (12-11, 7-3) shot 39.0 percent (23-59) from the field and 40.0 percent (10-25) from three, while Memphis (12-10, 3-6) was 39.1 percent overall (25-64) and 42.9% (6-14) from behind the arc. The Olive and Blue logged 36 rebounds, 13 assists and 17 points off turnovers.

Junior Sierra Cheatham led the Green Wave with a season-high 20 points. Cheatham made a career-high six threes on the night. Junior Krystal Freeman added 14 points and a game-high 14 rebounds and junior Arsula Clark recorded 10 points and a team-high four assists.

After trading baskets on the first few possessions of the second half, Tulane went on an 8-0 run to cut the Memphis lead to 39-37 with 6:03 left. The Tigers responded with a 6-0 run to extend the lead to 45-37 with two minutes remaining in the third. Tulane trailed Memphis 47-40 going into the fourth quarter.

The Tigers stretched the lead to 55-44 with seven minutes remaining in the game. Tulane responded with a 12-4 run to cut the score to 59-56 with three minutes left. Clark and sophomore Dynah Jones logged four points apiece during the run. After a 5-0 run from the Tigers, Freeman scored four straight points to cut the score to 64-62, but the Wave were unable to score again.

The Green Wave registered 10 steals and 13 assists in the game.

Memphis jumped out to a 7-2 lead, but the Green Wave cut the Tigers’ lead to 12-11 by the first media timeout. The Green Wave went on a 9-0 run coming out of the media break to take a 17-12 lead. Memphis responded with a 6-0 run to close the quarter. The Olive and Blue trailed 18-17 heading into the second quarter.

In the second quarter, the game was tied at 22 when Memphis went on an 8-1 run to close the half. Cheatham led the Green Wave with 11 points at the break.

Up next, the Green Wave will be back in action on Thursday, Feb. 13, as they welcome USF to Avron B. Fogelman Arena in the Devlin Fieldhouse. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.

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Tickets for the 2019-20 season can be purchased by calling 504-861-WAVE (9283), logging on to TulaneTix.com or visiting the ticket office at the James W. Wilson Jr. Center.

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