AAC Preview: Get to Know the Players and Coaches Who Will Lead the League This Season

Close Call with Huskies Last Season Boosts Tulane’s Confidence

On February 18, 2017, Tulane faced a team with an active 100-game winning streak. Undaunted, the team played its heart out and had a deficit of two points with less than 14 seconds to go in the game.  The Green Wave could not top the Huskies that night, but it gave them confidence that they could compete with the best of the best.

Head Coach Lisa Stockton said that the confidence has spilled into this season.  She aims to build on what the team accomplished last year and make the NCAA tournament.

Although each year presents new challenges, she is enthusiastic, in part, because of one of her top players.  “Kolby Morgan is one of the best guards in the nation.  When you have someone like that to build around, you get really excited about what your team can be,” Stockton said. “We are excited to integrate these younger kids in and hopefully do some things we have not done here before.”

Players Who Have Impressed the Coach
Stockton says that the team this year is definitely bigger, longer and more athletic than last year. A few players have stood out to her in practice so far.  “Probably the player I have been the most impressed with in terms of improvement is Kayla Manuirirangi.  She didn’t play a great deal last year because Leslie Vorpahl was always on the floor.   She is really doing a super job of leading the team this year, and I think is poised to have a great season for us.”

Among the freshman, Sierra Cheatham has caught the eye of her coaches.  “Cheatham is six feet and a guard who can shoot the three. She has done some great things in practice, and I think she will find her way into the lineup,” Stockton said.

Players to Watch
Kolby Morgan — Guard, Senior, 2017-18 Preseason All-Conference Second Team, 2016-17 Second Team All-Conference selection, Guard, Started all 33 games last season, 19.2 ppg

Tene Thompson — Guard, Junior, Look for her to play more guard this season

Harlyn Wyatt (Center, Junior) and Meredith Schulte (Junior Guard) — According to Stockton are “two players who started most of the year for us last year. I think those players will really step up and have a pretty big impact for us this year.”

First Regular Season Game: November 10 at Maine