The Green Wave women’s basketball team took to the court at home with a dominant win against the Jackson State Tigers Tuesday. Krystal Freeman led the Green Wave with 18 points with Louisiana-Monroe transfer Arsula Clark adding 15. Dene’ Mimms had a superb game defensively with six blocks, contributing to an overall team win for the Green Wave.

Last season the team finished with an even .500 record before losing in the first round of the American Athletic Conference tournament. The Green Wave are led by Freeman, a returning junior who was named the AAC Most Improved Player and selected to the All-AAC second team. These accolades followed a strong season where she led the Green Wave with both 14.4 points and rebounds 7.5 per game.

Freeman will look for help offensively from fellow junior Sierra Cheatham and sophomore Dynah Jones, who finished second and third in points per game last season. The second-year Floridian Erin Guiterrez is sure to contribute defensively, leading the team last season in steals, and with her excellent court vision, finishing second on the team in assists.

The Green Wave’s toughest test will likely come Feb. 19 on the road against UConn, currently ranked fifth in the preseason AP poll after making it to the Final Four of last year’s March Madness tournament. UConn has been a perennial powerhouse in women’s basketball, winning 111 consecutive games from 2014-18, setting a record across all of college basketball, and accruing four national championships along the way. 

Tulane will play five of its first six games and 19 out of 30 overall here at home in Fogelman Arena, where students will be able to cheer the Green Wave on to victory.