Senior Chanel Johnson scored 12 points, but the Golden Hurricane fell 65-50 at Oral Roberts Saturday afternoon. |
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Women's Basketball Absorbs First Loss of Season at Oral Roberts 65-50
Nov. 22, 2008
TULSA, Okla. - Senior Chanel Johnson came off the bench to score 12 points and junior Larrissa Williams led the team with 19, but it was not enough as The University of Tulsa women's basketball team fell 65-50 to Oral Roberts Saturday afternoon at the Mabee Center on the campus of Oral Roberts.
The Golden Hurricane, which began the season with a pair of wins, now stands 2-1 on the season, and will hit the road for its first true road game of 2008 Monday at Stephen F. Austin (7 p.m.). With the victory, Oral Roberts improves to 2-1 on the season.
"Chanel (Johnson) gave us a very good spark off the bench," Tulsa Head Coach Charlene Thomas-Swinson said. "This was her last go around with ORU, and her being an in-state kid, she understood the competitiveness that we both have, and she really did give us the spark that we needed and the post presence in getting rebounds."
"Oral Roberts did everything that they needed to, from a percentage standpoint, and they knocked down big shots. That is what the better ballclubs can do to you, and we've got to find a way to be able to do that as well. Again, I was pleased with the play of Chanel Johnson. I was pleased with the play of Tiffani Couisnard off the bench for us as well. We've just got to be able to get more players involved, and be able to put it together."
For the game, Tulsa shot 38-percent from the field on 21 of 56 shooting. The Golden Hurricane also went 0-for-4 from three-point territory, and did not even attempt the long shot until the second half. Johnson scored eight of her 12 points in the second half, and at one time scored six straight for the Hurricane. She did all of her damage in just 13 minutes on the court.
Williams led the Golden Hurricane again in scoring with 19 points, and added six rebounds. She also hit on 7-of-9 free throws in the contest. TU trailed in the rebounding category 37-32, including 30-25 in defensive rebounds.
Oral Roberts made its first seven shots of the game within the first six minutes to take a 15-8 lead to begin the contest. For the game, the Golden Eagles 47-percent from the field, including seven made three-pointers. ORU was led by forward Janae Voelker, who scored a game-high 21 points, and by guard Georgia Jones with 15 points.
"Anytime you play against a ball club like ORU, that really scored well in the first half, you're really in for a long night, in reference to being able to get the defensive stops you want," Thomas-Swinson said. "We tried to change the look up a little bit in the second half, trying to play a matchup zone, and they started missing shots and we started getting rebounds. But it was too little, too late. We've just got to go back to the drawing board really fast, because we play on Monday."
The Golden Hurricane returns to action Monday when it travels to Nacogdoches, Texas to take on Stephen F. Austin at 7 p.m. All Golden Hurricane women's basketball news and information can be found on the web at www.TulsaHurricane.com.
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