After eight games, TU’s women’s basketball team finds themselves at an even 4-4.
The team has yet to hit their stride and go on a winning streak of more than two games; however, they have also yet to lose more than two games consecutively.
The back-and-forth schedule started with a loss at home to Northern Iowa (69–66), which was followed by a victory against Lamar (73–69). ORU got the win in Tulsa’s next game, securing the Mayor’s Cup. Tulsa responded with their only set of consecutive wins to date, against Texas Southern (67–64 in overtime) and Buffalo (87–77).
The team’s only consecutive wins were followed by their only consecutive losses. Miami got the better of the Golden Hurricane (69–57), followed by a TU loss against Saint Louis University (63–58). In their most recent game, Tulsa prevailed against Valparaiso (87–63).
In each of their games this season, TU has been in a position to win. Their biggest loss was to Miami, and only by 12 points. The competitiveness of the games this season can be seen in the average score differential: +2 in favor of the Golden Hurricane. Over eight games, +2 is a small average.
Tulsa features a balanced scoring attack, with Mariah Turner leading the Golden Hurricane with 15 points per game, and Ashley Clark and Kadan Brady also averaging double figures in points. Tulsa has shot a solid 45 percent from the field this season, including 36 percent from behind the three-point line.
The Golden Hurricane have averaged 70 points a game with their strong shooting, while keeping the opponents to 68 points a game on 42 percent shooting from the field, and 28 percent from three.
In the game against Valparaiso, Tulsa made 15 three-pointers. This effort shattered the previous record of 11, that had been done three times.
Their next game is against Arkansas Sunday, Dec. 14, at the Reynolds Center. The game is the first of three remaining non-conference games, before Tulsa enters conference play on Dec. 31 against the defending national champion Connecticut Huskies.
