Thursday, February 1
Greenville, N.C.
6 PM
East Carolina University
12-8,5-4AAC
56
vs
48
Tulsa
16-6,6-3AAC
1
2
3
4
F
Tulsa
9
13
12
14
48
East Carolina
13
8
14
21
56
"Total Team Effort" Lifts Pirates to Victory Over Tulsa, 56-48
February 01, 2024 | Women's Basketball
GREENVILLE, N.C. - Coach Kim McNeal said it best as the East Carolina women's basketball team got contributions from everyone as they pulled away from the Tulsa Golden Hurricane for the win, 56-48, on Thursday night in Minges Coliseum. Karina Gordon and Danae McNeal led the way with 16 and 17 points, respectively.
The Pirates (12-8, 5-4 AAC) executed their game plan and weathered the storm at critical moments in the victory. A close first half saw ECU take a four-point lead into the first quarter break and Tulsa (16-6, 6-3 AAC) take a one-point lead into the halftime break. Karina Gordon scored 11 points in those first 20 minutes to match Temira Poindexter's 11 for Tulsa. Poindexter would finish the game leading all scorers with 23 points but being limited to just 10-26 from the floor.
Gordon notably hit three three-point shots in that first half which moved her into seventh in program history for trifectas made by a freshman, passing Justine Allpress and Kris May Richardson who both made 31.
Gordon would hit another critical one in the second half at a vitally important moment in the game. Tulsa had used an 8-0 run over just 2:16 of game time to push ahead by six, 32-26 with just four minutes remaining in the third quarter. The Golden Hurricane looked poised to pull away as they have done so many times this season, but the Pirates responded. McNeal made a pair of free throws, then a pull-up jumper to make it a two point game in short order, and then it was time for the freshman to step up and she delivered. Gordon's triple from the left wing gave the Pirates a brief lead and the game was on.
It was tight from there as the teams traded blow after blow. There were nine lead changes and four ties in the second half alone.Â
With 3:34 remaining and trailing 43-42, Bobbi Smith stepped to the foul line and sank a pair. It would be the lead change that stuck.
After a defensive stand, the Pirates came down with a chance to make a statement and Danae McNeal delivered it. Somehow, the graduate guard found herself wide open on the wing and absolutely splashed home her lone triple of the game to give the Pirates a four-point lead. Tulsa split a pair on their next trip down then McNeal drove in and scored again.
Two defensive stops later and the foul game commenced with a pair of makes from Gordon. In total, the Pirates shot 5-6 from the foul line during those final 90 seconds of game time - getting another two points from a clever fast-break bucket for McNeal off of an inbound play in the back court.Â
When the final horn sounded the story of the game was the Pirates efforts defensively, not only holding Tulsa under 50 points but keeping the hot-shooting Hurricanes to just 3-19 from three point range. Tulsa also shot a mere 7-17 from the foul line, which certainly did not help their efforts.
Notables
The Pirates will travel to Kansas on Sunday for a date with the Wichita State Shockers. The game will tip at 3 p.m. on ESPN+.
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The Pirates (12-8, 5-4 AAC) executed their game plan and weathered the storm at critical moments in the victory. A close first half saw ECU take a four-point lead into the first quarter break and Tulsa (16-6, 6-3 AAC) take a one-point lead into the halftime break. Karina Gordon scored 11 points in those first 20 minutes to match Temira Poindexter's 11 for Tulsa. Poindexter would finish the game leading all scorers with 23 points but being limited to just 10-26 from the floor.
Gordon notably hit three three-point shots in that first half which moved her into seventh in program history for trifectas made by a freshman, passing Justine Allpress and Kris May Richardson who both made 31.
Gordon would hit another critical one in the second half at a vitally important moment in the game. Tulsa had used an 8-0 run over just 2:16 of game time to push ahead by six, 32-26 with just four minutes remaining in the third quarter. The Golden Hurricane looked poised to pull away as they have done so many times this season, but the Pirates responded. McNeal made a pair of free throws, then a pull-up jumper to make it a two point game in short order, and then it was time for the freshman to step up and she delivered. Gordon's triple from the left wing gave the Pirates a brief lead and the game was on.
It was tight from there as the teams traded blow after blow. There were nine lead changes and four ties in the second half alone.Â
With 3:34 remaining and trailing 43-42, Bobbi Smith stepped to the foul line and sank a pair. It would be the lead change that stuck.
After a defensive stand, the Pirates came down with a chance to make a statement and Danae McNeal delivered it. Somehow, the graduate guard found herself wide open on the wing and absolutely splashed home her lone triple of the game to give the Pirates a four-point lead. Tulsa split a pair on their next trip down then McNeal drove in and scored again.
Two defensive stops later and the foul game commenced with a pair of makes from Gordon. In total, the Pirates shot 5-6 from the foul line during those final 90 seconds of game time - getting another two points from a clever fast-break bucket for McNeal off of an inbound play in the back court.Â
When the final horn sounded the story of the game was the Pirates efforts defensively, not only holding Tulsa under 50 points but keeping the hot-shooting Hurricanes to just 3-19 from three point range. Tulsa also shot a mere 7-17 from the foul line, which certainly did not help their efforts.
Notables
- With her first steal in the game, McNeal passed LaCoya Terry for ninth-most career steals in ECU history. McNeal now has 189.
- With 17 points, McNeal now has 1,094 for her career, passing Marcia Girven for 21st in program history.
The Pirates will travel to Kansas on Sunday for a date with the Wichita State Shockers. The game will tip at 3 p.m. on ESPN+.
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Team Stats
Tulsa
ECU
FG%
.352
.328
3FG%
.158
.417
FT%
.412
.765
RB
32
44
TO
17
18
STL
10
8
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
17
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
6
Pts
16
FGM
5
3FGM
4
FTM
2
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
8
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Women's BasketballGuard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
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