TULSA, Okla. -- Hot-shooting Tulane, the top seed in the Conference USA women's basketball tournament, stopped fifth-seeded East Carolina 73-64 in the semifinals Wednesday.
"I would just like to say that Tulane has a great basketball team and should be considered for the NCAA tournament, regardless if they win the conference tourney or not," ECU coach Sharon Baldwin-Tener said. "They are the best defensive team that we have played all season.
"I was especially proud of the way our freshmen stepped in and really gave us a lift in the second half. I think our season deserves to continue in the WNIT."
The Green Wave (25-6) will face UAB, a 70-65 winner over Houston in the other semifinal, in the championship game on Friday.
East Carolina (22-10) will await the announcement of the WNIT field on Monday.
Tulane shot 53.6 percent from the field compared to 40.7 for ECU.
Tulane also outrebounded the Pirates 20-14.
The Green Wave bolted to a 41-27 halftime lead and held off the Pirates in the second half.
Allison Spivey and Caitlin Thys had nine points each to lead the Pirates.
Spivey went 3-for-5 from 3-point range, setting a season record for 3-pointers with 62. She broke the mark of 59 set by Jennifer Jackson in the 2003-04 season.
Tulane placed four players in double figures, led by Danielle Nunn with 19. Tiffany Aidoo added 16, Roshaunda Barnes had 14 and Brett Benzio 10.
