Tulane falls just short at UCF

ORLANDO, Fla. – Tulane University women’s basketball (11-7, 3-4) came up shy of taking down UCF (13-3, 5-1) 69-67 on the road Wednesday.

A tip off the glass to fall as time expired would not fall. The Green Wave scored five-straight points in the final 32 seconds to give itself a shot to tie or win with the final possession.

Tulane finished with a trio in double figures as redshirt junior Dynah Jones led the way with 20 on 6-of-13 shooting including three triples. Moon Ursin followed with own hot shooting night from downtown hitting four three-pointers to finish with 17 points to go with eight rebounds. Arsula Clark rounded out the top scorers for the Green Wave with 10 points and four boards.

As a team the Wave shot an impressive 93 percent (14-of-15) from the free throw line. Tulane also held the advantage on the glass outrebounding UCF 34-26 in the contest.

The first quarter began in the favor of the Knights as UCF scored the first five points of the contest, before Tulane mounted its response. The Green Wave stormed back with a 10-2 run to claim the lead. After UCF got a bucket to make it a one-point game at 10-9, the Wave took control of the final three minutes of the quarter with 12 unanswered points to close the frame with a 22-9 advantage. Tulane knocked down four three-pointers in the quarter while limiting UCF to 33.3 percent shooting from the field and five turnovers.

UCF changed the momentum early in the second quarter chipping away at the Green Wave lead. The Knights found a rhythm shooting the rock knocking down shots at a 69.2 percent clip in the frame to climb back to within one with just over two minutes remaining in the half. Tulane changed the tide in the final minutes of the half by scoring the final six points on Ursin’s third triple of the half and a three-point play around the rim by Clark. Ursin led the Wave with 12 points in the half as Tulane held a 36-29 lead going into the locker room.

Tulane returned to floor with a purpose to begin the second half expanding its lead out to 12 points with 6:49 on the clock. The Green Wave and the Knights traded scores over the next few minutes of the frame, but UCF ended with another strong shooting quarter hitting 53.3 percent of its shots from the field. Over the final two minutes of the third quarter the Knights pulled within three to make it a 51-48 contest going into the final quarter.

The fourth quarter opened with seven-straight points from UCF to take its first lead since 7-5 with 6:12 to play in the first quarter. Tulane responded with five unanswered to reclaim the lead at 56-55, but the Green Wave was unable to hold on to the momentum. UCF went back in front with 6:14 to play before stretching its lead out to as much as six with 38 seconds remaining. Redshirt senior Kaila Anderson drained a deep three-pointer to cut it to three with 32 seconds left. The Green Wave forced a turnover on the next possession to set up Jones at the free throw line to make it a two-point game with 18 second on the clock. Another turnover gave Tulane one more chance with 10 seconds, but the Wave was unable to get one to fall losing 69-67.

Up next, the Green Wave will be back in Uptown to host East Carolina on Saturday, January 29. Tipoff between Tulane and the Pirates is set for 3 p.m. CT and will be aired live on ESPN+.

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