Tulane Defeats LSU New Orleans 101-61 Despite Gooden's 25 Points

Tulane Defeats LSU New Orleans 101-61 Despite Gooden’s 25 Points

by

Tajenae Gooden delivered a 25-point performance on Thursday night, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a dominant start by the Tulane Green Wave, who handed the LSU New Orleans Privateers a 101-61 defeat at Fogelman Arena in Devlin Fieldhouse.

The loss marks a challenging stretch for the Privateers as they navigate their inaugural season following the university’s transition back into the LSU system.

The game was effectively decided in the opening minutes. Tulane surged ahead immediately, scoring on a layup by Kanija Daniel just four seconds after the opening tip. This set the pace for a blistering first quarter where the Green Wave connected on 10 of their 15 field goal attempts, building a commanding 28-8 lead that the Privateers struggled to overcome for the remainder of the night.

LSU New Orleans showed signs of life in the second half, mounting an aggressive charge in the third quarter. The team scored 27 points in that period, shooting 9-of-12 from the field and 8-of-9 from the free throw line.

By the time the media timeout arrived, the Privateers had managed to trim a 34-point deficit down to 20, though Tulane responded by outscoring them by seven points over the final minutes of the quarter to pull away again.

Efficiency defined Tulane’s offensive output throughout the contest. The Green Wave finished the night shooting 62.7 percent from the floor and maintained a 50 percent success rate from three-point range. Five different players reached double figures for Tulane, with Nataliyah Gray providing a significant spark off the bench by scoring 20 points in just 15 minutes of play. Ja’Kyah Smith added 17 points, and Daniel finished with 15.

Despite the lopsided final score, Gooden remained a focal point for the Privateers. Beyond her game-high 25 points, she contributed seven assists and proved effective at the charity stripe, finishing 9-of-11 on free throws. Other notable contributors for LSU New Orleans included Rhian Comery with nine points and Destinie Gordon, who grabbed a team-high seven rebounds to go along with eight points.

The University of New Orleans, which rejoined the LSU system this past July, is currently rebranding as LSU New Orleans. The move marks a return to the institution’s historical roots, as it was previously part of the LSU family from 1958 until 2011. While the branding has evolved, the athletic teams continue to compete as the Privateers within the Southland Conference.

Looking ahead, the Privateers face a quick turnaround as they prepare for their next road contest. The team is scheduled to travel to face Tulsa on Wednesday, Nov. 18, with tip-off set for 6:30 PM. Fans can follow the team’s progress through their official social media channels, including updates on Twitter/X and Instagram.

Related reading

Read next