University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
11-12, 5-7
#2 Connecticut
22-1, 12-0
@MemphisWBKB Falls to #2 UConn, 80-34
Feb 07, 2015 | Women's Basketball
University of Memphis junior Ariel Hearn scored a team-high 13 points and grabbed seven rebounds, but it wasn't enough as the Tigers dropped an 80-34 decision to No. 2 Connecticut at FedExForum Saturday. With her 13 points, Hearn moved into the No. 16 spot on the Tigers career scoring chart with 1,370 points.
The Tigers fall to 11-12 overall and 5-7 in The American. The Huskies improve to 22-1 overall and 12-0 in the league.
Hearn played a game-high 38 minutes and added two assists and a steal. Redshirt sophomore Mooriah Rowser was the Tigers' only other double-figure scorer with 10 points. Rowser also had two steals and a block. Junior Asianna Fuqua-Bey pulled down a team-best eight rebounds.
Memphis played right with the nation's No. 2 team most of the first half, trailing only 16-14 with 6:55 on the clock. The Hearn-Rowser tandem kept the Tigers close, combining for 10 of the squad's first 14 points (Hearn 6, Rowser 4).
UConn, though, ended the half on a 12-2 spurt for a 28-16 halftime lead. With UConn leading 16-14, Huskies guard Saniya Chong went on an 8-0 run of her own to extend the lead to 24-14. Chong hit two free throws and followed with back-to-back three-pointers.
Hearn ended the Huskies' run with a jumper at the 1:44 mark of the first half. UConn held a 28-16 halftime advantage.
The Tigers stayed within striking distance with solid defense in the first half. Memphis held the Huskies to 28.6% shooting from the field (8-of-28) and 30% from the arc. UConn built its lead from the free throw line, where it was 9-of-10. Memphis did not attempt a free throw in the first half.
After halftime, the Huskies slowly pulled away. Over the first five minutes of the second half, UConn doubled its halftime advantage to 24 points at 43-19 with 15:28 on the clock.
Memphis cut the UConn lead to 19 points (43-24) on a Brianna Wright layup at the 13:13 mark, but that was as close as the Tigers got the remainder of the game.
Kia Nurse led five Huskies in double figures with 18 points. Chong scored 17 points, and Gabby Williams had 16 points. Williams grabbed a game-best 13 rebounds.
After holding UConn to under 30% percent in the first half, the Huskies bounced back in the second half, hitting 60.6% from the floor. UConn finished the game shooting 45.9% from the field. The Huskies shot 42.1% from the arc and 84.2% from the charity stripe (16-of-19).
Memphis shot 21.7% from the field and 100% from the free throw line (4-of-4).
Memphis returns to action Wednesday, Feb. 11 when it travels to Houston, Texas, to face the Cougars in an American Athletic Conference match-up. Game time is 7 p.m. (CT) from Hofheinz Pavilion.
