Jan. 11, 2008

Complete Game Notes in PDF Format

NEW ORLEANS - The Tulane women's basketball team plays its Conference USA home opener Saturday against the UTEP Miners at 2 p.m. at Fogelman Arena. Tulane looks to improve on its 11-4 overall record and 1-1 mark in C-USA play. UTEP enters at 11-2 overall and 2-0 in C-USA.

It's the first game at Fogelman in the new year, as Tulane has played at New Orleans Arena (a 69-47 win over Nicholls State on Jan. 2), and a pair of games in Houston (a 61-38 win at Rice, and a 74-64 loss at Houston) since the Wave's last game at their home arena, a 77-72 win over Louisiana-Monroe.

Tulane's loss to Houston was the Wave's first loss on the road all season, as Tulane won the first six of the 2007-08 season away from home. The streak tied for the second-longest away win streak in school history. The Houston contest was also Tulane's first loss when leading at the half, after winning their first eight with a lead at the break, and the first loss when Tulane attempts more free throws than their opponent.

The Wave were stellar from the free throw line against Houston (20-of-22, .909) and have connected on 103 of their last 115 free throw attempts in the last six games (.896). Tulane owns a .756 free throw percentage as a team, which ranks 22nd in the NCAA. Ashley Langford leads the team with a .940 mark from the line (60-of-64), which ranks fourth in the nation. Her .940 mark is ahead of Tulane's top single-season record (.889, set twice by Jami Montagnino). At .865 (238-of-275) she is currently Tulane's all-time leading free throw shooter just head of Montagnino's .861 (248-of-288).

Tulane will face UTEP for the first time since last season's 81-56 dismantling of the Miners in Fogelman Arena on January 14. Langford tied her own school record with 14 assists as Tulane shot 65.4 percent for the game and 79.2 percent in the second half. The Wave handed out 30 assists, the third-most in a game in school history.

Dominique Philpots scored 10 points on five-of-five shooting in the meeting.

The Miners handed Tulane a 80-76 loss in the C-USA opener for both teams last season in El Paso, despite a double-double from Langford.

The all-time series is tied, 2-2.