TU Womens Hoops to Aid Red Cross Tsunami Disaster Relief Fund Golden Hurricane to Host Key WAC Games Against Boise State, UTEP This Week Tulsa, Oklahoma In an effort to provide relief for the thousands of people affected in Asia by a deadly Tsunami on Dec. 26, 2004, The University of Tulsa Womens Basketball players, coaches, and staff has pledged $1,000 to the American Red Cross for the Tsunami relief fund.
The Golden Hurricane (8-3, 0-2 WAC) opens its Western Athletic Conference home slate with a pair of games beginning this Thursday against Boise State (5-5, 0-1 WAC) at 7:00 p.m., and vs. UTEP (6-5, 1-0 WAC) this Saturday at 2:00 p.m. Both games will be played at the Donald W. Reynolds Center.
Fans will have the opportunity to assist Tsunami victims in South Asia by matching the teams gift with a $1 donation at either the Boise State or UTEP game. The Tulsa womens basketball team will present a check in the full amount raised to the American Red Cross during halftime of the Rice game on Thursday, January 13, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. The Rice game is also Pack the House night. Admission to the game is just $2.
TU is 4-0 at home, but hasnt played a home game since defeating Georgia Tech on Dec. 12. Tulsa put together a school-best seven consecutive victories to open the 2004-05 campaign, but is just 1-3 in its last four outings.
Sophomore Jillian Robbins leads three Golden Hurricane players in double-figure scoring with 15.5 points per game, and has turned in six 20-point performances. Juniors Megan Moody and Kara Pongonis are second and third on the team in scoring with 10.5 and 10.4 points per game, respectively. Robbins is also Tulsas top rebounder with 9.7 boards per game, and has six contests with 10 or more rebounds. The Golden Hurricane is averaging 65.5 points and 43.1 rebounds per game, and is shooting 39.8 percent from the field, 30.1 percent from behind the three-point line and 71.9 percent from the free-throw line.
Boise State (5-5, 0-1 WAC) fell to travel partner, UTEP, on the road, 71-69, in the WAC opener for both teams last week. The Broncos have found success at home with a 4-1 mark, but have struggled on the road with a 1-4 record. BSU picked up its lone road win with a 90-63 victory at Utah Valley State on Dec. 18. Since then, Boise State has dropped its last two road decisions at UTEP and at Weber State (81-71). Boise State was picked to finish seventh in the preseason WAC Coaches Poll.
Freshman Tasha Harris and junior Cassidy Blaine are each averaging double figures with 12.9 and 10.4 points per game respectively, while junior Jamie Hawkins is the teams top rebounder with 6.9 boards per outing. Boise State is averaging 64.5 points and 38.5 rebounds per game and is shooting 40.5 percent from the field, 38.5 percent from behind the three-point line and 65.4 percent from the foul line.
Thursdays game marks the seventh all-time meeting between Tulsa and Boise State. TU leads the overall series, 5-1, and is 3-0 at the Reynolds Center against the Broncos. Last season at home, Tulsa needed overtime to get past Boise State, 60-54.