Nov. 15, 2008
Complete Game Notes PDF | Updated Bracket
The Tulane women's basketball team will face Arizona State Sunday at 3 p.m. in second round of Preseason WNIT. The Green Wave downed Illinois State on Friday, 75-62, to advance to Sunday's second round in Tempe, Arizona.
Arizona State defeated Cleveland State, 75-59, Friday evening to advance. The winner of Sunday's game will move on to the third round against the team which advances out of a group of four teams. UC-Riverside vs Oklahoma and Lafayette vs Middle Tennessee are first round games which feed into Tulane's potential third round match-up. That portion of the bracket plays its first round games Saturday.
The loser of Tulane/Arizona State will play one final game against the runner up of the UC-Riverside/Oklahoma/Lafayette/Middle Tennessee portion of the bracket.
TULANE NOTES
Preseason WNIT
Tulane and Arizona State meet in the second round of the Preseason WNIT. The Sun Devils downed Cleveland State, 75-59 on Friday. The Green Wave is 0-1 all-time versus Arizona State, with the lone meeting coming on Dec. 7, 1986 at Fogelman Arena, a 83-68 Sun Devil win.
Tulane in the Preseason WNIT
The Green Wave are making their third appearance in the Preseason WNIT. Tulane is 2-2 all-time in the tournament, and 0-2 on the road. Tulane lost at Louisiana Tech in the first round of the 1996 tournament. In 2000, the Wave defeated Grambling at home before falling in the second round at Texas.
Well, How Did We Get Here?
Tulane used a solid defensive effort and recieved double-digit scoring from five players in Friday's 75-62 win over Illinois State. Ashley Langford paced Tulane with 18 points, with Megan Valicevic adding 12. Chassity Brown chipped in 11, while Brittany Lindsey and Indira Kaljo each added 10.
Getting Defensive
Tulane held Illinois State Redbirds to 62 points, over 14 points below their average last season (76.9). The Green Wave ranked third in C-USA last season in scoring defense, with 63.4 points against per contest. In their exhibition contest, the Wave held the Houston Jaguars to just a 16.7 field goal percentage for the game (9-of-54), and 10.7% in the second half (3-of-28).
All About This Benzio, Baby
`Diaper Dandy' Brett Benzio was no baby in the paint as the 6-3 forward hauled in a game-high 12 rebounds in her debut over Illinois State. She also blocked two shots and added eight points on three-of-four shooting with a pair of free throws.
Rebounding Ro'
While Tulane's tallest player (the 6-3 Brett Benzio) led Tulane in rebounding vs Illinois State, the Wave's second-most rebounds were grabbed by its shortest player: the 5-5 Roshaunda Barnes. Barnes picked up seven boards to go with six points and five assists.
Mo' Experience, Mo Points for Ro'
Barnes' six points Friday were one shy of the seven points she totalled all of last season as a freshman. In her first 12 games last season, primary as backup point guard to Ashley Langford, Barnes attempted just eight shots. Friday, she came off the bench as a shooting guard, sharing the floor with Langford.
Valiant Valicevic
Senior Megan Valicevic scored all of her 12 points in the second half Friday, including the back-breaker: a three-pointer with the shot clock expiring that put the Wave up comfortably 66-54 with two minutes to play.
The Bench Hits Back
Instead of hitting the bench, Tulane's bench hit Illinois State up for 24 of Tulane's 75 points Friday. Green Wave subs also grabbed 22 rebounds, including 12 by Brett Benzio and seven by Roshaunda Barnes.
Exhibition Impressions
The Green Wave defense held the Houston Jaguars club team to 17 points in each half of a 59-34 win Nov. 8. Brittany Lindsey led Tulane with 17 points while adding seven rebounds. Freshman F/C Brett Benzio paced the Wave on the boards with nine rebounds. Fellow freshman Jennifer Nwokedi hauled in four rebounds in nine minutes of action.
Deuce's Dimes: Langford is Fifth to 500 in Conference USA
Junior PG Ashley Langford is fourth in C-USA career assists with 541 in 90 games, two back of third all-time. She became Tulane's career assist leader in only 69 games and finished last season ranked 26th in the NCAA in APG (5.35).
Out Shoot `Em
Tulane was 10-0 last season when connecting at a higher field goal percentage than its opponent, and 5-14 when posting a lower percentage. (1-0 when same FG%:, .333 vs Winthrop). The Green Wave outshot Illinois State 41%-38% on Friday.
Calm at the Line
The Green Wave was 20-of-30 from the free throw line Friday, but hit five of their last six to seal the win. Tulane's .733 free throw percentage last season (430-587), was the second-best team free throw percentage in program history, behind only the 2005-06 team (.742). Ashley Langford is second all-time at Tulane in free throw percentage at .853 (295-346).
Pre-Season Prognostication
The Green Wave, 16-14 last season, were picked fifth in Conference USA in the preseason poll of the C-USA coaches.
