FORT WORTH, Texas – No. 14 Tulane stormed back in the second half to defeat No. 11 SMU, 68-62, in the second game of the 2024 American Women’s Basketball Championship, Saturday, March 9, at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.
With the win, the Green Wave (11-19) advances to the second round to face No. 6 Charlotte on Sunday, March 10 at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT on ESPN+.
SMU (14-16) led 40-33 with 5:39 remaining in the third quarter, but Tulane hit back-to-back 3-pointers to cut the lead to one. After being tied at 43, the Green Wave went on a 14-4 run to pull away.
Tulane shot 57.1 percent (16-28) in the second half after shooting 34.4 percent (11-32) in the first half.
Kyren Whittington hit four 3-pointers and scored 28 points to lead the Green Wave, with 22 coming in the second half. Amira Mabry hit four from behind the arc as well and had a total of 16 points.
Tiara Young led SMU with 17 points, while Amirah Abdur-Rahim added 14.
SMU shot 53.6 percent (15-28) from the field in the first half to take a 32-23 lead at the break.
2024 American Women’s Basketball Championship Schedule
First Round | Saturday, March 9
Game 1: No. 13 Wichita State 64, No. 12 Florida Atlantic 50
Game 2: No. 14 Tulane 68, No. 11 SMU 62
Second Round | Sunday, March 10
Game 3: No 9 East Carolina vs. No. 8 Memphis – 1 p.m. ET/ Noon CT | ESPN+
Game 4: No. 13 Wichita State vs. No. 5 South Florida – 3 p.m. ET/2 p.m. CT | ESPN+
Game 5: No. 10 Rice vs. No. 7 UAB – 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT | ESPN+
Game 6: No. 14 Tulane vs. No. 6 Charlotte – 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT | ESPN+
Quarterfinals | Monday March 11
Game 7: Game 3 winner vs. No. 1 Tulsa – 1 p.m. ET/Noon CT | ESPN+
Game 8: Game 4 winner vs. No. 4 UTSA – 3 p.m. ET/2 p.m. CT | ESPN+
Game 9: Game 5 winner vs. No. 2 North Texas – 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT | ESPN+
Game 10: Game 6 winner vs. No. 3 Temple – 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT | ESPN+
Semifinals | Tuesday, March 12
Game 11 – Semifinal 1, Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner – 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT | ESPN+
Game 12 – Semifinal 2, Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner – 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT | ESPN+
Final | Wednesday, March 13
Game 13: Championship, Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner – 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT | ESPNU
