Nov. 11, 2006

Box Score

TULSA, Okla. - Senior Jillian Robbins produced a game-high 29 points and 14 rebounds to lead host Tulsa past visiting Southeast Missouri State in the season opener for both teams at the Donald W. Reynolds Center. The Golden Hurricane improve to 1-0 on the young season with the win, while the Redhawks fall to 0-1.

Southeast posted an early 7-2 lead at the 16:34 mark in the first half on a layup by senior center Lachelle Lyles (Chicago, Ill./Shelton State CC). Tulsa came back with a 10-5 scoring run over a 5:29 stretch to tie the score at 12-12 on a jumper from Tandem Mays with 10:05 remaining. A three-pointer from sophomore guard Szandra Pal (Budapest, Hungary/Vorosmarty Mihaly) and a pair of free throws from junior forward/center Missy Whitney (Charleston, Mo./Three Rivers CC) helped the Redhawks regain a 19-15 lead. The Golden Hurricane then posted a 19-6 scoring drive over seven minutes, highlighted by seven points from Mays, to enter halftime with a 34-25 advantage.

Robbins connected on three free throws to hand the home team a 37-25 lead to open the second stanza. Southeast sliced its deficit down to 37-30 with five quick points on a layup from Pal and a three-pointer from sophomore guard Tarina Nixon (Gilbert, Ariz./Highland) at the 18:37 mark. A jumper from Valerie Siemens started an 18-6 scoring drive over an 8:46 which included 11 points from Robbins that gave Tulsa a 55-36 lead. Mays drained a three at the 6:58 mark to increase the Golden Hurricane advantage at 58-39. Whitney then scored seven straight points, including a pair of threes, to cut Tulsa's lead down to 58-46 with less than six minutes remaining, but the home team scored nine of the final 17 points down the stretch to capture the win.

Whitney finished with 16 points to lead the Redhawks, while Nixon contributed eight points, six rebounds and three steals. Junior guard Ashley Lovelady (Elkhart, Ind./Moberly Area CC) posted seven points and four assists, while sophomore forward Rachel Blunt (Dexter, Mo./Dexter) added four steals.

In addition to Robbins, May was the only other Tulsa player in double figures as she added 15 points on 5-for-7 shooting with two assists and two steals for the Golden Hurricane.

Southeast welcomes Central Arkansas to the Show Me Center for its home opener on Tuesday, Nov. 14 with a start time of 7:30 p.m.