University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
2-4
UALR
5-0
@MemphisWBKB Falls Short of Comeback Against Unbeaten UALR
Nov 29, 2014 | Women's Basketball
Box Score | Quotes | Notes
MEMPHIS - UALR (5-0) turned 23 University of Memphis women's basketball (2-4) turnovers in to 17 points and held Memphis to just 28.6 percent shooting in the opening half in a 66-59 win in the Elma Roane Fieldhouse.
"UALR is averaging 60 points a game and giving up 46. They're going to aggravate you and frustrate you," Melissa McFerrin said. "They're going to make you question everything you do. They make you play honest basketball and if you aren't willing to do that, you'll have your hands full. Our frustration at times meant we penetrated too deep or there was a passing lane we expected to be open that wasn't. We had a hard time executing. I'm disappointed. I told our players tonight that if we don't have a mentality to go at them for 40 minutes then we would have a tough time winning. I thought they brought it to us tonight."
It was a low-scoring affair to start the game, as the two teams knotted up the score and exchanged the lead six times in the opening stanza. But tied at 16, it was UALR went on a 14-8 run to close the half, getting 12 points and eight rebounds Kaitlyn Pratt to lead 31-24 at the break.
UALR opened the second half with an open jumper from the wing, pushing the lead to nine at 33-24. The Tigers got a pair of free-throws and a jumper from Ariel Hearn to cut the lead to five at 35-30 with 16:13 in the second stanza, but Pratt scored three points and Alexius Dawn drilled a three to push the Memphis deficit to double digits at 41-30 with 13:34 left. That double-digit lead held up for most of the remainder of the second half before the Tigers unwrapped a full court, trapping defense. A pair of three point field goals from Hearn and two free throws from Mooriah Rowser cut the deficit to 64-57 with 12 seconds left, but that was as close as the Tigers could get.
Hearn led Memphis with 22 points, her third consecutive 20-plus point game. Brianna Wright added a double-double of 14 points and 16 rebounds, while Asianna Fuqua-Bey added 11 points. Both Tiger posts fouled out of the game, as did Hearn.
Pratt finished with a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds. Taylor Gault added 19 points off the bench as the UALR bench out-scored the Memphis bench, 21-4.
The Tigers will remain home for two more home games in this homestand, beginning with a Tuesday night 8 p.m. matchup against Austin Peay. Fans can buy tickets for that game at www.gotigersgotix.com . Tickets are $2.00 as part of the Tigers' Black Friday/Cyber Monday online ticket promotion. That promotion expires at 11:59 p.m., December 1st.
