Tulane women’s basketball showed fans the squad’s readiness for the season with a 90-48 win over Loyola New Orleans in its exhibition match on Wednesday, Nov. 4. 

After starting the game down 20-19 in the first quarter, the Wave’s offense and defense came to life and outscored the Wolf Pack 71-28 in the remaining three quarters of the game. 

Sophomore guard Kolby Morgan, junior guards Leslie Vorpahl and Courtnie Latham, and freshman guard Taylor Emery all scored double-digit points, leading the Green Wave’s offense as they shot 45 percent from the field and made 85 percent of their free throws.

“It was a good feeling to be back out there,” Morgan said. “Back with a new squad so it’s a brand new atmosphere. Different people but the intensity still needs to stay up. Just a good feeling tonight.”

Defensively, Tulane dominated Loyola as it forced 20 turnovers for 20 points by the first half. 

“Certainly give Loyola credit. They came out and hit good shots and took the momentum early in the game. For us, we felt like we really had to increase our intensity,” Tulane head coach Lisa Stockton said. “What changed the game for us was the press. We started pressuring and got some easy baskets. I thought that switched the momentum our way.”

Morgan and Latham both led the team offensively with 18 points, the latter of which also tied with Vorpahl for a team high of four assists. Senior forward Tierra Jones, senior center Chinwe Duru and sophomore guard Caylah Cruikshank controlled the floor down low with seven rebounds apiece.

All five freshman earned time on the court with Emery leading the pack, scoring 16 points and finishing eight for nine on free-throw attempts. Freshman center Ksenija Madzarevic recorded four blocks during the game.

“It was exciting,” Emery said. “I was just happy to get out there with my squad and get the win.”

The woman’s basketball team will open its season at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 13 in Devlin Fieldhouse, where it will face another NCAA division team from last year, Arkansas- Little Rock. 

“They’re a very, very good team,” said head coach Lisa Stockton. “We just need to up our level.”