By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
NEW ORLEANS – Tulane put forward a physical fight in its battle with the Tennessee Tech women on Wednesday in the championship game of the Tulane Holiday Tournament, but the Golden Eagles didn't back down, trying its hardest to keep up with a strong, physical team out of the American Athletic Conference.
However, the Golden Eagles saw the Green Wave pull away in the second half, the tide rising with a 12-point run in the third quarter as Tulane took a 71-49 victory over Tech in the last non-conference contest of the season for the Golden Eagles.
Tech (6-4) advanced to the championship of the two-day event by default as VCU had to pull out of the tournament on Monday afternoon.
The Golden Eagles, as hard as they tried, couldn't get their shots to fall as Tulane (9-3) blocked seven shots and Tech only hit 18 of 60 tries, a 27.8-percent clip.
Tech did get double-digit production from Anna Walker (11 points) and Reghan Grimes (10 points), while the true freshman from Nashville narrowly missed a double-double as she pulled down a team-best eight rebounds. Walker and Grimes were both named to the All-Tournament team.
Maaliya Owens had nine points and Jada Guinn had seven – including 5-for-6 from the free-throw line.
Rachel Hakes led Tulane with 22 points and was 5-for-6 from the stripe as she drew six fouls in the contest. Kyren Whittington also scored 17 points, while Anijah Grant grabbed 11 caroms and had four of the Green Wave's seven blocked shots in the contest.
Tech was able to force Tulane into 20 turnovers in the game.
Tulane also led the battle on the glass, grabbing 40 rebounds to 26 for Tech. The Golden Eagles did have more second-chance tries.
The surge in the third quarter came as Tulane shot 72.7 percent from the field and 83.3 percent from 3-point range, while Tech went 3-for-14 in the period (21.4 percent).
Photo | Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information