Jan. 14, 2010

NEW ORLEANS - The Tulane University women's basketball team will look to build on the momentum of an 82-60 win over Rice last Sunday in Fogelman Arena when the Green Wave open a two-game road trip on Friday, Jan. 25, against Conference USA foe Tulsa at 7 p.m. in the Reynolds Center.

Tulane has enjoyed a solid season to date, posting a 12-3 overall record and a 1-1 mark in league play after dropping the C-USA opener to Houston on Friday and bouncing back with a 22-point win over the Owls two days later. The Green Wave have had to battle injuries of late, but have overcome the adversity to rank among the nation's leaders in winning percentage.

As a team, the Green Wave are averaging 72.6 points, 36.0 rebounds, 18.3 assists, 12.5 steals and 3.9 blocks per game. Senior guard Chassity Brown and junior forward Brittany Lindsey lead the team with scoring averages of 14.8 and 11.5, respectively, but the duo have combined to miss 13 games so far with injury. Lindsey is out for the year after having surgery on her right shoulder, and Brown is expected to miss from two-to-five weeks after breaking a bone in her left (non-shooting) hand in practice a week ago.

In their stead, Tulane will continue to use a small lineup and implement four players who are averaging at least 8.9 points per game. Headlining that group are freshman guard Olivia Grayson and junior forward Danielle Nunn with respective marks of 9.9 and 9.2. Sophomore center Brett Benzio - who is tied with junior forward Tiffany Aidoo with an 8.9 point-per-game average - leads the team in rebounds, averaging 8.2 per game, while junior guard Roshaunda Barnes paces the Wave with 4.6 assists and 3.2 steals a night.

Tulane is hitting 45.6 percent of its shots from the field, connecting on 398-of-873 attempts, including 90-of-234 from beyond the 3-point arc (.385). The Green Wave defense has held opponents to a 37.1 shooting percentage (312-of-841) and a 30.7 clip from 3-point land (65-of-212). Tulane opponents are averaging 58.3 points, 37.5 rebounds, 11.5 assists, 8.7 steals and 2.6 blocks per game.

Tulsa, meanwhile, enters the weekend 6-7 on the year and 0-2 in Conference USA after dropping road games to Memphis and UAB on Jan. 7 and Jan. 9, respectively during the league's opening weekend.

As a team, the Golden Hurricane are averaging 68.7 points, 46.0 rebounds, 13.1 assists, 9.0 steals and 5.0 blocks per game. Larrissa Williams leads the team with 15.6 points per game while Taleya Mayberry is close behind with a 12.3 average. Williams also leads Tulsa in rebounding, averaging 8.7 per game, while Mayberry paces the squad with 46 assists and 31 steals.

Tulsa is hitting 40.3 percent of its shots from the field, connecting on 341-of-847 attempts, including a 58-of-202 showing from beyond the 3-point line (.268). The Golden Hurricane's defense has held opponents to a 36.0 shooting percentage (280-of-777) and a 33.7 clip from 3-point land (85-of-252). Tulsa's opponents are averaging 66.6 points, 40.8 rebounds, 12.7 assists, 8.5 steals and 2.2 blocks per game.

Friday's game marks the 11th meeting between Tulane and Tulsa on the hardwood, and the Green Wave lead the all-time series 7-3. The two teams split the first six matchups, but Tulane has won each of the last four contests, including 49-44 win in the first round of the 2009 C-USA Tournament.

Following the game against the Golden Hurricane, the Green Wave return to action on Sunday, Jan. 17, when they travel to Dallas to take on SMU at 2 p.m. Tulane's next home game is slated for Saturday, Jan. 23, when the Wave play host to Southern Miss at 2 p.m. in Fogelman Arena. For ticket information, contact the Tulane Athletics Ticket Office at (504) 861-WAVE.

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