Slow Start Troubles Tulsa in 71-57 Loss to #23 USF

Wednesday, January 31

Reynolds Center

7:00 pm

Tulsa

8-14, 2-7AAC

USF

17-5, 7-2AAC

USF

Tulsa

Photo by: Bill Powell

Slow Start Troubles Tulsa in 71-57 Loss to #23 USF

1/31/2018 9:33:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Final Stats in PDF l Final Stats in HTML l Season Stats in PDF

After scoring just five points in the first quarter, TU was only outscored by one point in the final three frames, dropping a 71-57 decision to #23 USF on Wednesday evening at the Donald W. Reynolds Center. TU fell to 8-14 on the season and 2-7 in American Athletic Conference play, while USF moved to 17-5 overall and 7-2 in the league.

"In the beginning we couldn't make shots, going 2-for-14, and then we gave up 34 free throw opportunities to our 19," Head Coach Matilda Mossman said. "They got 16 offensive rebounds, but they are averaging 14 so that wasn't a surprise, but we can't give up that many rebounds."

Shug Dickson led the Hurricane with 21 points and seven rebounds, while Crystal Polk added 11 points and five boards, and Erika Wakefield recorded nine points.

After being down by as many as 20-points in the fourth quarter, 60-40 at the 3:45 mark, the Golden Hurricane battled back and pulled to within nine (64-55) with 1:04 left in the contest. The Bulls scored on a layup and had five made free throws in the final minute, while TU had just one made field goal to end the contest.

After going 2-of-13 in the first three quarters from behind the arc, Tulsa hit three-of-five attempts in the final 10 minutes.

USF had a 50-34 lead in rebounds, a 12-7 advantage in assists and a 2-1 edge in blocks, while both teams had four steals.

Tulsa shot 35-percent from the field, including 29-percent from behind the arc, and 63-percent from the free throw line, while USF shot 33-percent from the field, 27-percent from three-point range and 70-percent from the charity stripe.

USF jumped out to an early 7-2 lead at the 4:33 mark and had an 18-5 advantage at the end of the first frame as TU was just 2-of-14 for 14-percent from the field in the first 10 minutes.

The Golden Hurricane improved to 38-percent from the field in the second period and outscored USF, 12-9, to go into the break down 27-17. After shooting 47-percent in the first quarter, TU held the Bulls to just 11-percent (2-of-17) in the second frame.

USF inched further ahead with a 19-15 scoring advantage in the third quarter to take a 46-32 lead with one quarter remaining.

The Bulls were led by Maria Jespersen with 26 points, 13 of which were from the free throw line, while Kitija Laksa added 17 points. Jespersen had a team-best 13 rebounds.

Tulsa will return to action on Saturday, February 3 at Temple. Game time is set for 12:00 pm Central in Philadelphia, Pa.