Jan. 16, 2004

NEW ORLEANS, La. - -

East Carolina 65, Tulane 58 - Final Box Score

East Carolina's Keisha Anthony came off the bench to score a game-high 20 points to lead the Pirates to a 65-58 win over the Tulane women's basketball team at Fogelman Arena on Friday.

Tulane lost its second straight to fall to 7-8 overall and 0-2 in Conference USA play. East Carolina won its sixth consecutive game to improve to 12-4 and 3-0 in league action.

East Carolina took a 33-31 lead into the locker room after a back and forth first half. Tulane led by as many as nine, 21-12, at the 9:27 mark, but the Pirates rallied with a 12-2 run to claim a 24-23 lead with 3:54 mark. The Green Wave got a three-pointer from Kelly Nadeau to claim a one-point lead, but a ECU free throw tied the score at 29-29 with just over 90 seconds remaining. Tulane again took a two-point lead on a Lakethia Hampton lay-up only to see the Pirates equalize and then go ahead on Viola Cooper's steal and lay-up with three seconds left.

Neither team could mount much offense early in the second half, as the Pirates had a 34-32 lead at the 14:52 mark. A lay-up from Hampton tied the score at 34-34, but East Carolina answered with an 8-0 run to claim a 42-34 advantage with 11:15 remaining. Tulane cut the lead to four, but ECU pushed its lead to as many as 12 with 2:49 left. The Wave again rallied, pulling to within five on a pair of free throws from Delacey Joseph, but could get no closer as the Pirates claimed the seven-point victory.

Hampton led Tulane with 18 points, 13 rebounds and six steals, posting her third double-double of the year. Joseph added 14 points and five rebounds. In addition to Anthony's 20 points, Jennifer Jackson had 14 points for the Pirates.

Tulane forced 27 turnovers, but for the second straight game, was victimized by poor shooting in the second half, as the Wave were just 8-of-28 in the second stanza.

Tulane returns to action on Sunday, as the Green Wave play host to defending Conference USA champion Charlotte at Fogelman Arena. The 49ers are coached by former Tulane assistant coach Katie Meier, who is in her third season at Charlotte. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. in a game that will be televised by the Conference USA Television Network.