Women's Basketball Roundup: February 22

Tulane 84, Southern Miss 45 | Box Score

Tulane 84, Southern Miss 45

NEW ORLEANS, La. -- Janell Burse made sure her final home game was a memorable one as she led the Tulane women's basketball team to a convincing 84-45 win over Conference USA rival Southern Mississippi during Thursday's Senior Night at Fogelman Arena.

Burse scored 29 points, pulled down 15 rebounds and blocked four shots in just 26 minutes of action. The 6-5 center made a season-high 12 free throws, in 14 attempts, but brought the house down with her first career three-pointer with 2:24 remaining in the game. The shot was also her first career three-point attempt.

Tulane improved to 19-9 overall and finished Conference USA play with a 12-4 record to clinch at least a tie for the Wave's third straight National Division crown. Southern Miss ended the regular season with a 12-15 record and are 5-11 in league play.

Junior Sarah Goree got the Wave off on the right foot, hitting back-to-back three-pointers to give Tulane an early 6-0 lead. After a Southern Miss bucket, Burse scored six straight points herself to give Tulane a 12-2 lead. The Golden Eagles scored to pull within eight, but Burse again scored six straight points to put the Wave ahead 18-4. After a Dana Jones jumper cut the Tulane lead to 12, Kelly Scanlon hit a three-pointer and Teana McKiver added a free throw to give Tulane a 22-6 cushion at the 11:32 mark. Southern Miss rallied to cut the margin to 24-14, but Gwen Slaughter hit a jumper that started a 13-4 run. Goree hit a three-pointer before Burse connected on two free throws. A free throw from Victoria Mason briefly halted the Tulane spurt, but Burse answered with an old-fashioned three-point play to give Tulane a 34-15 lead at the 3:22 mark. USM's Janique Williams and Tulane's Britt Themann traded three-pointers and Tulane took a 37-18 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Goree again got the Wave started in the second half, hitting a baseline jumper and a three-pointer, before Burse hit a free throw to give Tulane a 43-18 lead at the 18:18 mark. Southern Miss fought to within 21, but Burse countered with two free throws to start a 14-1 burst and the Golden Eagles would get no closer the rest of the game. Teana McKiver scored five straight points as part of the run and Burse again hit both a basket and a free throw after being fouled. Freshman Delacey Joseph capped the burst with a three-pointer that gave Tulane a 58-25 lead with 11:44 left. Tulane led 71-38 at the 4:22 mark when the Wave's three seniors would make their final appearance on the court. After a three-pointer from Britt Themann and a basket and free throw from Teana McKiver, the Tulane seniors combined for five points that punctuated an 11-2 burst. Senior Kelly Scanlon hit two free throws before Burse hit her three-pointer from the top of the key thanks to an assist from fellow senior Taryn Turnbull.

Burse's 29 points led four Wave players in double-figures. Goree scored 16 points, thanks in part to a 4-of-8 performance from behind the arc. McKiver had 11 points, five rebounds and a block, while Themann also had 11 points to go along with two rebounds and a blocked shot. Senior Taryn Turnbull had five assists without a turnover in 18 minutes of action, while classmate Kelly Scanlon had five points, six rebounds and three assists. Gwen Slaughter chipped in six rebounds, three assists, three blocks and a steal, while Delacey Joseph notched career highs with seven points and five rebounds. All 11 Tulane players played at least 11 minutes and each grabbed at least one rebound.

Tulane raced to a 37-18 lead thanks in part to a strong defensive effort. The Wave held Southern Miss to just 20.0 percent shooting in the first half (7-of-35), including just a 2-of-15 performance from behind the three-point arc. And though both teams were whistled for 18 fouls, Tulane took advantage of eight more trips to the free throw line, connecting 18-of-23 attempts from the charity stripe. Southern Miss was just 8-of-15 from the free throw line. Tulane held a 57-40 edge in rebounding and blocked nine shots. For the game, Tulane hit 41.8 percent of its shots (28-of-67), while limiting Southern Miss to just 25.0 percent shooting (17-of-68).

Victoria Mason was the only Golden Eagle in double figures, finishing with 14 points and five rebounds. Senior Angela Johnson had five assists and four rebounds, while freshman Lana Lewis chipped in six points, three rebounds and two assists.

Tulane must now wait to learn its seeding for the upcoming Conference USA Tournament. The Green Wave are assured of at least the No. 3 seed and a first-round bye and can earn a No. 2 seed should Houston lose at either UAB or Memphis this weekend. The Green Wave are the two-time defending C-USA Tournament champions.