TU Narrowly Escapes Loss to SMU

Originally Published: Feb 18, 2010 9:58 PM CDT

Stephany Speck
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

TULSA, Oklahoma -- The Tulsa Golden Hurricane squeaked by with a win Thursday night, beating the SMU Mustangs, 57-54.

Both teams started the game slow offensively, reaching double digits seven and a half minutes into the first half. TU and SMU battled for the lead, but it wasn’t until the Golden Hurricane’s Jermaine Kermis hit a three that the momentum shifted in her team’s favor.

TU went on a five-point run that lasted almost four minutes. The Golden Hurricane went into halftime leading 27-21.

A quick layup by SMU’s Christine Elliott opened the second half, but TU answered back with another five-point run to put the score at 32-23.

The Golden Hurricane extended its lead to 13 points, but the Mustangs rallied with just 1:30 on the clock after Haley Day hit a layup to come within one point of TU, 55-54.

The last minute of the game consisted of missed shots. Both teams battled to the end for the win, but a couple of shots by TU’s Larrissa Williams at the charity line sealed SMU’s fate.

Williams ended with a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Teammate Teka Brooks also earned a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

SMU’s Brittany Gilliam finished with 13 points and nine rebounds, while Day ended with 14 points and seven rebounds.

The Golden Hurricane earned its third straight win and will travel to East Carolina Sunday to face the Pirates. Tipoff is slated for 1 p.m.