University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
Tulane
Women's Basketball Drops Fifth Straight
Jan 31, 2009 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 31, 2009
Complete Box Score in PDF Format 
Short-handed with just eight players in uniform, the University of Memphis women's basketball team (8-14, 1-8 C-USA) did not have enough firepower to withstand a cold shooting night in a 59-44 loss to Tulane, Saturday afternoon.
"You have to give credit to Tulane," Head Coach Melissa McFerrin said. "They have played in Coach Stockton's system for a while and they do a good job of running in it. They are long and gave us problems once they got us slowed down as the first half got going."
Memphis struggled to score from both ends of the floor, shooting 28.0 percent in the opening 20 minutes, and 34.5 percent in the second half.
Memphis was up 13-4 with 9:34 to play and then committed turnovers on six of the next seven possessions on the offensive end of the floor. While the Tiger offense stalled, Tulane was using a 21-0 run to not only tie the game at 13-13, but to build a 25-13 lead before Shae Seagraves hit a jumper one step inside the three-point arc to snap an 8:57 Tiger scoring drought. Ashley Thornton added a jumper before the clock wound all the way down to send the Tigers in to the locker room down 25-17.
The Tigers came out and forced a pair of Green Wave turnovers to start the second half, trying to the deficit down. Ashley Thornton hit a layup, cutting the deficit to six down at 25-19 with 19:33 to play, but Tulane knocked down a pair of free-throws and a layup inside from freshman Brett Benzio to push the lead to double-digits at 29-19 with 15:35 to play. Paris Leonard tried to answer back, knocking down a three from the corner to cut it to seven, but Tulane had an immediate answer, with a three from Indira Kaljo.
Memphis would get a Savannah Ellis layup to cut it to single digits again, but Tulane answered with an 11-2 run powered by back-to-back threes to push the Green Wave lead to 19 at 46-27 with 9:12 remaining in the game.
The Tigers could not mount a run from there, cutting down on the turnovers late in the game, but the Green Wave shot 59.1 percent in the second half to keep Memphis on the ropes and to close out the 59-44 victory.
Paris Leonard led Memphis with 15 points, adding six rebounds and three steals. Ashley Thornton had her 14th career double-double, finishing with 10 points and 10 rebounds and three steals in 39 minutes.
Tulane had just one player in double figures, as Brittany Lindsey battled foul trouble to finish with 10 points and six rebounds. Six other Tulane players scored six or more points and the Green Wave defense forced 27 Tiger turnovers en route their 12th victory of the season.
The Tigers have a light week next week, playing just one game when they venture to Birmingham to face UAB Saturday at 6 p.m. The Tigers return home on Thur., Jan. 12th when they host SMU. That game will tip at 7:00 p.m.
