Taleya Mayberry had a big day getting the second double-double of her career, Kadan Brady produced a career-high and Kelsee Grovey also landed in two figures, but neither of those factors were enough to help Tulsa as it was dealt a 69-63 defeat Sunday at East Carolina.
Mayberry scored 14 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, the most in her four-year career. Brady finished with 16, the most she has put up for TU and Grovey posted 10.
Kristine Mial and Celeste Stewart each had 14 points for East Carolina.
"Basketball is a game of inches, a rebound here and a missed shot there," Tulsa coach Matilda Mossman said. "Statistically both teams shot the ball well from the floor, both teams shot from the line well, both teams missed opportunities from three-point range, rebounding was pretty even, so it comes down to turnovers and offensive rebounds, but they just beat us. I don't think it was anything we didn't do, they just beat us."
Tulsa (6-11 overall, 1-3 in Conference USA) turned the ball over 18 times compared to just 11 for the Pirates. East Carolina (12-5, 2-2) had a 33-31 edge on the boards.
The Golden Hurricane shot 48 percent (24-of-50), 27 percent (4-of-15) from 3-point range and was 73 percent (11-of-15) in free throws. The Pirates shot 48 percent (26-of-60), 27 percent (3-of-11) from 3-point range and was 82 percent (14-of-17) in free throws.
TU was down 35-34 at halftime and had a 52-47 lead with 8:15 remaining after a basket by Loren McDaniel and a 3 from Brady. A lay-up by Mayberry would put TU ahead 63-59 with 3:10 to go. But the lead would eventually evaporate as East Carolina scored the last 10 points.
Tulsa returns home to meet UCF at 7 p.m. Thursday.
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