NEW ORLEANS, La. – Tulane outscored Southeastern Louisiana, 21-7, in the fourth quarter on the way to a 70-54 victory in non-conference women's basketball action Saturday evening at Fogelman Arena.
 
Playing for the first time since Nov. 27 and with only seven available players, SLU (1-2) played toe-to-toe with its in-state foes for the first three quarters. The Lady Lions, playing with no true post players, led the majority of the first half and went into the final quarter down by just two against a Tulane team (4-2) that is picked to finish third in the American Conference.
 
Southeastern was able to neutralize Tulane's size and depth advantage for the majority of the contest due in large part to an active defense. SLU forced 18 Green Wave turnovers, as Breonca Ducksworth and Hailey Giaratano each recorded a game-high three steals.
 
On the other end, Morgan Carrier led Southeastern with 18 points and three assists, while Jaylen Huderson chipped in with a career-high 10 points off the bench. Chrissy Brown led SLU with seven rebounds.
 
Tulane was paced by Krystal Freeman, who finished with 25 points and 17 rebounds for her second double-double of the season. Freeman was joined in double figures by Arsula Clark and Dynah Jones with 13 points apiece. Salma Bates added a game-high six assists.
 
Southeastern jumped out to a 5-0 lead and controlled the action for most of the first two quarters. A free throw by Ducksworth with just under two minutes left in the half gave SLU its largest lead, 29-21.
 
However, Tulane came up with an answer to close the second quarter. Three-point plays by Freeman and Jones fueled an 8-0 half-ending run that knotted the score at 29-29 at the break.
 
Tulane took its first lead early in the third quarter, but SLU kept the Green Wave from pulling away. The Green Wave led by as many as six in the period, but Carrier hit her third three-point field goal of the contest to send the Lady Lions into the final 10 minutes trailing, 49-47.
 
Ultimately, Tulane's size and depth advantage paid dividends in the final minutes. A three by Giaratano had SLU within, 58-54, with 5:40 left. However, SLU would be outscored, 12-0, from that point forward to allow Tulane hold off the Lady Lions' upset bid.
 
Up Next
Southeastern will close out non-conference play on Monday with a 4 p.m. contest at Grambling.
 
TICKETS
For ticket information, please contact the Southeastern Athletics Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466 or visit www.LionSports.net/tickets. Southeastern is implementing mobile ticketing as the primary source for securing tickets for the 2020-21 season. All tickets will be available via e-mail or text message in a PDF format for fans to download on their phone or print at home. Tickets can also be downloaded to Apple Wallet.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Southeastern Women's Basketball, follow @LionUpWBB on Twitter, like /SoutheasternWBB on Facebook and subscribe to the SLUathletics YouTube channel.
 
CLEAR BAG POLICY
Southeastern Athletics has instituted a clear bag policy for all ticketed events, effective with the start of football season. For more information on the clear bag policy, visit www.LionSports.net/clear.