Elliott, Heidotten Lead Tulsa Women Past Boise State, 62-41
2/7/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 7, 2002
By Duane DaPron
Tulsa, Oklahoma - Tulsa turned on the defensive pressure and returned to its winning ways at home with an easy 62-41 Western Athletic Conference victory against Boise State Thursday night in front of a crowd of 805 at the Reynolds Center.
The victory, the Golden Hurricane's fourth straight, boosted Tulsa to 14-8 overall and 9-3 in conference play. The win also snapped a two-game home losing streak for Tulsa. Boise State, a first-year member in the WAC, fell to 6-16 and 2-10 in the league.
A smothering Golden Hurricane defense allowed the Broncos to connect on just 14 of 54 field goals for a paltry 25.9 percent-a season-low for a Tulsa opponent. Boise State managed just 18.5 percent (5 of 27) from the field in scoring only 17 points in the second half. The Broncos also committed 20 turnovers.
"I've always felt good about our defense," Golden Hurricane head coach Kathy McConnell-Miller said. "We have three guards who are 5-9, 5-10 and 5-11 so, from a defensive standpoint, we can do a lot of things. Our size and our athleticism has a lot to do with our defensive play." [ep] Besides its solid defensive performance, Tulsa featured a balanced scoring attack against the Broncos with four Golden Huricane players finishing in double figures.
Kayla Elliott led the way with 12 points hitting five of eight from the field. Becky Heidotten had 11, hitting on five of seven field goals. Leela Farr and LeAnn Upshaw notched 10 each with Upshaw going five for five from the field. Carla Morrow added nine.
Morrow, a senior forward, also tied a school record by playing in her 107th career game to match the mark of 107 set by Kasie Pittman from 1996-2000.
Tulsa jumped on top early, going on a 19-6 run, to take a 21-8 lead with 12:10 to play in the opening half. Boise would get no closer than eight the rest of the way.
The Golden Hurricane, which led 37-24 at half, opened its biggest lead-22 points--on two occasions in the second half. The last time came at 56-34 with 5:41 to play in the game.
By earning its ninth conference win, Tulsa equaled the school single-season victory total in the WAC. The 1999-2000 Golden Hurricane posted a 9-5 league mark.
Tulsa's 14 wins ties the school record for the second-most wins in a single season, which was also set by the 1999-2000 squad in its 14-15 campaign.
Andrea Swindall and Camille Woodfield paced Boise State with 11 points each but neither scored in the second half.
