Tulane would build their lead right out of the break after a six point run to start the second half forced a timeout from coach Clark-Heard and the Bearcats where they trailed 36-28. The Bearcats flipped the momentum after a huge putback by Hayes after snatching the offensive board. A putback that sparked some a huge burst of momentum, as the Bearcats had all the momentum after a quick seven points from Hayes and Milton, made this a 36-34 game with 6:13 on the clock. Coach Clark-Heard and the Bearcats were looking to set the tone from there, as Braylyn Milton was starting to turn on the burners after seven quick points. However, the Wave did the exact same as they outscored the Bearcats 11-4 in the final three minutes, as they now held a 13 point lead over the Bearcats heading to the 4th quarter.
The Bearcats knew they had to find a way to stop Dynah Jones, as she was propelling the Wave’s offense here this afternoon. Senior guard Mya Jackson was looking to set the tone as the Bearcats looked to make a huge comeback, as she had four of the Bearcats seven points to start the fourth quarter. Caitlyn Wilson, continued to show why she is one of the most lethal shooters in the American Athletic Conference after knocking down a huge three to make it 54-48, and cut the Wave’s lead to single digits.
Jackson would then force a Wave turnover and take it the other way to for an easy layup, cutting the deficit to three after holding Tulane without a field goal for the first five minutes of the fourth quarter. A huge opportunity for the Bearcats to pull off the late second comeback but Tulane would outscore the Bearcats 8-1 in the final two minutes and hold on to defeat the Bearcats 65-54 after a huge afternoon from Dynah Jones, who had five of the Wave’s final eight points.
The Bearcats fell just short as they now fall to (9-17, 2-11 AAC) on the season after their devastating loss this afternoon. A game in which the Bearcats were looking to build momentum at the right time, the Wave just seemed to have an answer to every punch the Bearcats threw in the fight this afternoon. Tulane did a great job eliminating Jillian Hayes, who finished with just eight points, but set a new season high with 15 rebounds. Hayes, would snatch almost one-third of the teams 42 rebounds this afternoon, which was very impressive considering Tulane is a very physical team in the paint. Mya Jackson would lead the Bearcats with 15 points on 6-of-13 shooting, which was great for the Bearcats to see as Jackson seemed to get back in rhythm after being banged up here the last few weeks in conference play. Jackson, a key piece to this young Bearcats team, will look to provide a huge spark heading into the final week of AAC play.
The Bearcats will look to bounce back in the win column as they look to turn their focus towards the Memphis Tigers, before making the trip to Memphis on Wednesday night. A huge opportunity awaits as the Bearcats look to build some momentum here in the final week of the season before heading to Fort Worth, Texas for the AAC Conference Tournament.
