Tulane Women's Basketball Eliminated From NCAA Tournament by Minnesota, 68-48

Teana McKiver

Lindsay Whalen scored all of her 18 points in the second half as Minnesota defeated Tulane 68-48 in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Saturday night.


By JANIE McCAULEY
AP Sports Writer


STANFORD, Calif. - Lindsay Whalen scored all of her 18 points in the second half as Minnesota defeated Tulane 68-48 in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Saturday night.


Whalen, the Golden Gophers' leading scorer at 21 points per game, was 0-for-3 in the first half, then scored 14 of her team's 23 points during one spurt in the second half as Minnesota took control for good. The junior guard also had six assists and five rebounds for sixth-seeded Minnesota (24-5), which needed a big offensive effort in the second half to win. The Golden Gophers shot 54.3 percent, including 58.3 (14-for-24) in the second half.


Kelly Nadeau was the lone Tulane player in double figures with 11 points, while Teana McKiver added nine points and five rebounds for the No. 11 seed Green Wave, who ended their season 19-10.


Whalen hit back-to-back 3-pointers early in the second half as the Gophers regained the lead, 38-35, with 15:56 remaining.


Whalen's 3s started an 11-0 run as Minnesota took control for good. Freshman D'Aundra Henry played point guard for Tulane most of the second half, but struggled to get the offense going. She committed five turnovers and Nadeau had six, and Tulane was held to 38 percent shooting.


The Green Wave were effective double-teaming 6-foot-2 Minnesota center Janel McCarville almost every time she touched the ball in the first half, but went away from that defense in the final 20 minutes.


McCarville struggled to get off shots and often forced things early, but wound up with nine points, seven rebounds and two blocked shots.


After Tanisha Gilbert gave Minnesota a 22-15 lead with a three-point play at 5:09 in the first half, Tulane scored seven straight points to tie the game at 22. Lakethia Hampton gave the Green Wave their first lead of the game, 26-24, with a basket 1:45 before halftime and led 28-27 at the break.


Tulane used a 13-2 run to get back in it in the first half.