Feb. 28, 2008

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NEW ORLEANS - Megan Valicevic posted a career-high 20 points as the Tulane Green Wave recorded their highest scoring out-put in conference play with an 80-60 win over Tulsa Thursday night at Fogelman Arena. Valicevic added a team-high eight rebounds while Ashley Langford chipped in 18 points and six assists.

The Green Wave (15-13 overall, 5-10 Conference USA) committed just nine turnovers, the Wave's second fewest in a game this season. Tulane shot 62 percent from the field in the second half (13-of-21) turning a four-point game into a rout.

Alendra Brown, who missed the first half after coming down with migraine-like symptoms during pregame warm-ups, checked in with 15:02 to go in the second half and Tulane leading by four. The Wave promptly went on a 14-7 run and when Brown departed, the Wave led by 14.

The run was keyed by a pair of three-pointers from Nikki Luckhurst and Valicevic.

Tulsa, which falls to 10-18 overall, 6-9 in C-USA action, was led by Chanel Johnson's 18 points and seven rebounds. Larrissa Williams added 14 points.

Chassity Brown chipped in 15 points and four assists, shooting five-of-nine from the field.

The Green Wave used a full court press to grab a 15-4 lead in the first six and a half. Chassity Brown connected on a pair of three-pointers and Ashley Langford converted an `and-one' as Tulane led by 17-6. But Tulsa responded with a pair of three-pointers by Kara Vaughan.

Tulsa trimmed the margin to 22-20, before a jumper from Langford and a three-pointer from Megan Valicevic restored a five-point edge. Larrissa Williams connected on a jumper as the first half came to a close, pulling Tulsa to 32-29 at intermission.

Chanel Johnson led all scorers with 12 points for Tulsa. Tulane was led by Chassity Brown's 11 points, while Langford added nine points, three assists and four steals. Tulane forced 11 first-half turnovers, scoring 15 points off Tulsa miscues.

In the second half, Chassity Brown hit a lay-up in transition and Nikki Luckhurst drained a three from the wing, as the Wave led 44-49 with 13:09 to go.

Kendra Barnes started in place of Alendra Brown, who missed the first half after coming down with migraine-like symptoms during pregame warm-ups. Brown checked in with 15:02 to go in the second half, and the Wave promptly went on a 14-7 run, over the next 5:04, pushing the margin to 55-44.

Tatum Beer canned a three from the corner as Tulsa cut the margin to 55-47, but Langford and Valicevic answered with three-pointers of their own. The lead was restored to 14 when Brown checked out with 8:18 left.

A baseline runner from Tiffany Aidoo gave Tulane a 69-49 lead, and Valicevic hit her third three-pointer of the game to surpass her previous career high.

Tulane led by as many as 17 the rest of the way, as the Wave held Tulsa to 31 percent shooting in the second half.

The Green Wave will hold senior night on Saturday at 5 p.m. against SMU in a nationally televised game on CSTV.

Prior to the game, at approximately 4:50 p.m., Tulane will honor seniors Alendra Brown, Nikki Luckhurst and Dominique Philpots.

The trio look to continue Tulane's run of success on Senior Night. Every senior to play under head coach Lisa Stockton has won on their senior day, as the Green Wave have a 13-0 record in the final regular season home game in Stockton's tenure.

The game was moved to a 5 p.m. start to air live nationally on CSTV (Cox Digital Cable channel 315 in New Orleans).