Box Score New Orleans, La. – The UNCG women's basketball team (5-7) fell to the Tulane Green Wave (8-3), 53-74, in the first day of the Tulane Classic Sunday night. Lucy Mason (Stone Mountain, Ga./Chamblee Charter) led all scorers with 21 points for her 11th 20-point performance of the season. UNCG will return to Devlin Fieldhouse to face Cleveland State in the second day of the tournament at 3 p.m. (CT).
UNCG dashed out to an early 4-0 lead but Tulane quickly caught up in the opening frame. The Green Wave took its first lead at 3:55, 9-8, on a three-pointer by Kolby Morgan. The Spartans kept the game within two points but Taylor Emery hit a jump shot at the buzzer to put Tulane ahead 15-12 at the end of the quarter.
Tulane upped the ante in the second quarter, outscoring the Spartans 21-7 and held UNCG scoreless for nearly five minutes before UNCG was able to break up the Green Wave's run. The Spartans scored late in the half and would carry that momentum into the break. UNCG trailed 36-19 at the break.
The Spartans shot just 26.7 percent from the field in the fist quarter and was plagued with 11 turnovers. UNCG was unable to find the net from three-point range shooting zero-for-five from downtown. Tulane was 13-for-32 from the floor in the first half shooting 40.6 percent and was 100 percent from the free throw line. The Green Wave held a 25-19 advantage on rebounds in the first half.
UNCG came out hot in the third and brought the game within 14 points, but was unable to cut the deficit to single digits as Tulane maintained its lead. At the end of the third and with 10 minutes to play the Spartans trailed by 15, 54-39.
The Spartans score four-straight points in the opening minute of the final frame, forcing the Green Wave to call a timeout. UNCG trailed by its smallest margin in the second half, 11, with 8:51 to go. Tulane scored five-straight points to lead by 16 once again but Mason made a fast break layup and India Timpton (Charlotte, N.C./Myers Park) made one-of-two free throws to bring the game within 13 with 5:09 left to play. UNCG would not recover as the Green Wave went on to win by 21.
UNCG improved to shoot 45.5 percent from the field in the second frame but was slopping from the charity stripe connecting on just 12-of-20 attempts. Tulane also improved from the field in the final 20 minutes shooting 56.7 percent from the field.
Monday's meeting with Cleveland State will be the first time the Spartans and Vikings will clash in program history. Live stats are available at UNCGSpartans.com.
