Tulsa Pulls Off 17-Point Comeback Win over UAB

Friday, February 20

Tulsa, Okla.

6:30 p.m.

Tulsa

17-9,9-5American

UAB

10-16,3-11American

UAB

Tulsa

Photo by: Anais Moua

Tulsa Pulls Off 17-Point Comeback Win over UAB

2/20/2026 9:55:00 PM | Women's Basketball

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TULSA, Okla. — Tulsa (17-9, 9-5 American) came back from 17 points down to defeat UAB (10-16, 3-11 American), 59-55, with a decisive 24-7 showing in the fourth quarter Friday in the Donald W. Reynolds Center. The Golden Hurricane capitalized on the Blazers' 25 turnovers, converting them into 26 points to secure the win.

This marks the second game in a row against UAB where Tulsa's utilized a comeback of 17 points or more to defeat the Blazers. Last year, Tulsa came back from down 20 in Birmingham.

With the win, Tulsa clinched a spot in the American Conference Women's Basketball Championship, which will run from March 10-14 at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala.

Tulsa's Big 3 came through once again as redshirt senior forward Hannah Riddick (17 points) and junior guards Mady Cartwright (16 points) and Jade Clack (11) led the way in scoring. Riddick had 11 points in the fourth quarter alone and led Tulsa with eight rebounds.

Freshman guard Dora Toman returned to the floor for the first time in six games. She produced seven rebounds, six of which came in the final period, while earning a team-high three assists. Tulsa was +20 when she was on the floor.

"I'm just super proud of our team and the resilience that we showed," said Head Coach Angie Nelp, who has now led Tulsa to 17-win in each of her five seasons at TU. "We showed our ability to really believe and stay together and have great toughness down the stretch. Can't say enough about Mady Cartwright's toughness and big plays, and not just the clutch free throws at the end, or the threes, but on both sides of the ball, offensively and defensively. She was a huge difference maker. Hannah Riddick started us off in the fourth quarter with six straight points, and she really had some tough finishes around the rim. And then Jade Clack on the defensive side, she ended up with five steals, and just being able to gain some momentum through these compounding moments, it was a great team win. UAB is a well-coached team, and we're glad that we came away with a win today."

The first quarter commenced with Alisha Peavy scoring a layup for the Golden Hurricane, setting the tone for the quarter. The Blazers responded with a three-pointer from Cali Smallwood at 8:05, giving them an early edge. The home team regained momentum with a three-pointer by Jade Clack at 6:48, assisted by Shamaryah Duncan, to take a brief lead. UAB's Sofia Munoz contributed significantly, making a fast-break jumper and a three-pointer, which helped her team pull ahead. At the end of the quarter, the Blazers led the Golden Hurricane 15-10.

UAB extended its lead over Tulsa with a strong performance in the second quarter, outscoring the hosts 18-9. Molly Moffitt was instrumental, scoring several key baskets, including a layup at 7:08 with an assist from Monae' Duffy. Duffy also contributed with a jumper at 2:59 and provided multiple assists throughout the quarter. Tulsa's Mady Cartwright hit a three-pointer at 6:24, assisted by Layla-J Cameron, but the Golden Hurricane struggled overall, shooting 3-for-13 from the field. UAB capitalized on its rebounding advantage, securing 11 boards to Tulsa's four, which helped maintain its momentum going into halftime.

In the third quarter, Tulsa made a strong push, edging UAB 16-15. Cartwright led the charge with a layup at 9:09 and a three-pointer at 2:04, contributing significantly to the home team's efforts. Hannah Riddick added a three-pointer at 3:47, narrowing the gap. Meanwhile, Munoz kept the visitors ahead with consistent scoring, including a jumper at 3:17. The quarter ended with Laura Di Stefano's layup at 0:32, cutting UAB's lead to 48-35.

Tulsa mounted an impressive comeback in the final quarter, outscoring the Blazers 24-7 in the period, to secure the 59-55 victory, which was fueled by a 15-0 scoring run through the final five and a half minutes. Riddick was pivotal, scoring multiple layups, including one at 3:22, narrowing the deficit to five points. Cartwright took a flagrant 1 foul by Eleecia Carter and subsequently drained a pair of free throws with 1:14 remaining, giving the Golden Hurricane a one-point lead – their first lead of the game. A defensive rebound and layup by Dora Toman with 1:05 left extended the lead, and Riddick sealed the win with a free throw at 13 seconds.

Tulsa will remain at home to host Tulane (10-16, 5-9 American) on Tuesday, February 24, at 6:30 p.m.

Tulsa's Top Performers
Hannah Riddick
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- 17 points
- 8 rebounds
- 3 steals

Mady Cartwright
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- 16 points
- 3 3-pointers
- 2 steals

Jade Clack
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- 11 points
- 5 steals

UAB's Top Performers
Sofia Munoz
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- 14 points
- 5/8 field goals
- 3 assists

Monae' Duffy
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- 10 points
- 12 rebounds
- 3 assists

Molly Moffitt
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- 8 points
- 10 rebounds

Game Notes:
- Tulsa has now won three in a row against UAB, trimming the Blazers' series lead down to 11-4.
- TU has earned comeback wins of 17 or more points in each of the last two games against UAB, having come back from down 20 last season.
- A 17-point deficit in the third quarter (40-23) ties the second-largest comeback in program history.
- With the win, the Golden Hurricane clinched a spot in the American Women's Basketball Championship next month.
- Head Coach Angie Nelp has now reached 17 or more wins in each of her five seasons at Tulsa.
- Hanna Riddick led TU with 17 points and eight rebounds. It's her 17th double-figure scoring game this season and 34th of her career.
- 15 of Riddick's points came in the second half and 11 were in the fourth quarter alone.
- Mady Cartwright produced 16 points for her 20th game this season scoring in double-figures and 47th of her career.
- Cartwright had 13 of her 16 points in the second half.
- In Dora Toman's first game back from a medical decision, she had seven rebounds and a team-high three assists.
- Six of Toman's seven boards came in the fourth quarter.
- Clack boosted the defense with a career-high five steals.
- Cartwright now has 977 career points and needs 23 more to reach 1,000. She ranks 14th all-time in program history in career scoring.
- Tulsa forced 25 turnovers and converted them into 26 points.
- Neither team recorded a single block.

GET TICKETS TO THE AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP
Ticket sales are live for the 2026 American Conference Women's Basketball Championship, which will run from March 10-14 at Legacy Arena in the Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex in Birmingham, Ala. Fans can purchase tickets ahead of time by CLICKING HERE.

2025-26 TICKETS
Single-game tickets are now on sale for $13 per ticket per game for ages 4 and older and can be purchased in advance at TulsaHurricane.com or at the entrance. Season tickets also start at just $77. Season ticket members will receive 1 (one) ALL-IN-1 pass that will be good for all 2025 TU Women's Basketball regular-season home games in the Donald W. Reynolds Center. No refunds for canceled games due to weather-related or any other cause. CLICK HERE to start the process of ordering tickets or call 918-631-4688.

Visit www.TulsaHurricane.com for the latest news and information on the women's basketball program. Fans can also follow the team on X, Facebook and Instagram.