Jan. 17, 2003

Final Stats

New Orleans, La. - In a game pitting two of the top three defensive teams in Conference USA, Tulane used an 9-2 run midway through the second half to win a hard-fought battle 58-50 over Saint Louis University on Friday. The Green Wave took advantage of 38 free throw attempts and hit 26 in the game.

The Green Wave led 36-32 when Harmonie King hit a short jumper from the right side with 11:04 to play. But the Billikens went cold from the field and could only manage one basket as Tulane tallied seven straight during a 9-2 run. The Billiken defense kept the game close. Tulane took a 45-36 lead with 4:42 to play. King hit a layup to pull the Bills to 45-38 with 2:46 left in the game. Tulane took its biggest lead of the game at 48-38 with 2:07 to play and scored 10 straight points from the line to end the game. The Billikens cut the lead to six points in the final seconds but could not draw any closer.

Tulane came into the game second in C-USA in defensive scoring, allowing just 56.9 points per game, while the Billikens are third allowing 57.1 ppg. Free throw shooting proved to be the difference as Tulane hit 26-of-38 from the stripe, while the Billikens hit 90 percent but took only 10 free throws. The Billikens shot a season-low 28.8 percent in the game and forced the Green Wave into hitting just 36.4 percent from the field and 27 turnovers. Tulane made just 16 field goals and the Billikens took 22 more shots from the field.

Harmonie King led the Billikens with 11 points, and Angie Lewis added 10 points and eight rebounds. Gwen Slaughter posted a double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds to lead Tulane.

The Billikens fall to 10-7 on the season, 1-1 in Conference USA. Tulane wins its third straight and improves to 11-4 overall, 2-0 in C-USA.