Jan. 5, 2005

NEW ORLEANS, La. - Conference USA Player of the Week Lakethia Hampton and the Tulane women's basketball team open the Conference USA portion of the schedule on Friday night against Houston at 7 p.m. in Fogelman Arena.

The Green Wave enter league competition with an 8-5 record, after a four-game winning streak came to a halt Sunday afternoon at the hands of top-ranked LSU, 79-45, in Baton Rouge. Hampton, a senior forward, earned her first double-double of the season on a 24 point and 14 rebound performance against the Lady Tigers.

Hampton is Tulane's leading scorer and rebounder, tossing in 18.5 points to go along with 8.1 rebounds per game, while junior guard D'Aundra Henry chips in 14.2 points and 4.46 assists each outing. Tymeka Moore is the Green Wave's second-leading rebounder, clearing 5.5 boards a contest.

Houston, picked to finish third in the conference pre-season poll, comes to town in the midst of a three-game losing skid after falling to New Mexico State, 68-63, on Monday night. Senior Sancho Lyttle scored 25 points and grabbed 17 rebounds en route to her ninth double-double of the season to lead the Lady Cougars (9-3). Lyttle leads Houston and ranks second in the conference in scoring and rebounding, averaging 21.0 and 12.6, respectively. Guard Joann Overstreet leads the league in assists, averaging 8.0 per contest, and is second in steals collecting 4.45 a game.

Friday's matchup marks the 16th meeting between the two schools, with Tulane holding an 11-4 advantage in the overall series. The home team has won the last three contests, including last year's meeting when then-No. 23 Houston posted a triple-overtime win, 83-78, against the Green Wave at Hofheinz Pavilion.

Following Friday night's game, Tulane hosts TCU on Sunday at 2 p.m., on Basketball Alumni Day at Fogelman Arena.

Tickets are available for both games at the door or by calling 504-861-WAVE. For fans not able to attend the contest, the game will be broadcast live on the radio on the flagship station of Tulane women's basketball, WRBH 88.3 fm.