University of Memphis Athletics
Photo by: Joe Murphy
Official Practice Begins Monday For Women's Basketball
Oct 03, 2016 | Women's Basketball
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Monday afternoon, the University of Memphis women's basketball team had its first official practice for the 2016-17 season at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse. The Tigers will have a little over a month before the season opener at home against Missouri State on Nov. 11.
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"We're a new product right now so I think everybody is anxious to get started," said head coach Melissa McFerrin. "I know there are a lot of players that are anxious to see a little bit more playing time out there. Today's the day that we put the ball out, everybody laces it up and we figure out who is going to be our real core."
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The Tigers return seniors Taylor Williams and Loysha Morris who saw quite a bit of playing time in 2015-16 and gladly welcome the return of Breigha Wilder-Cochran who missed most of the season due to injury.
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"She's back," added McFerrin in reference to Wilder-Cochran. "That gives us a very important position where we are solid and we have an understanding of how things work."
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After having to sit out last season due to transfer rules, Memphis looks forward to Ashia Jones being able to hit the court in 2016-17. At UT Martin, Jones averaged over 18 points and six rebounds in 64 games. Jones was a 54.3 percent shooter from the field and finished her UT Martin career with 52 double-figure scoring games.
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Juniors Brea Elmore and Cheyenne Creighton will also be looked at to lead the team this season. Creighton is the team's top returning scorer and last year she led the squad with a .592 field goal percentage.
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The Tigers host 16 contests at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse with 13 contests on the road. Memphis' non-conference schedule features several Power Five conference opponents in Illinois, Kansas, Arkansas and Vanderbilt. Illinois is the only true road trip among those opponents, as Memphis hosts Kansas and Vanderbilt and faces Arkansas in the Nugget Classic over Thanksgiving break.
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The 2016-17 conference season is the Tigers' first 16-game league schedule since 2012-13, the program's last season in Conference USA. Memphis played a 16-game conference schedule from 2005-06 through 2012-13 in C-USA.
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This year, Memphis will have 12 games broadcasted including one on ESPN2, two on ESPNU and four on ESPN3. The Tigers had 12 games broadcasted last season, all but two of those games were on ESPN3 or the American Digital Network. For more information on the Memphis women's basketball team, follow us on Twitter at @MemphisWBKB.Â
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"We're a new product right now so I think everybody is anxious to get started," said head coach Melissa McFerrin. "I know there are a lot of players that are anxious to see a little bit more playing time out there. Today's the day that we put the ball out, everybody laces it up and we figure out who is going to be our real core."
Â
The Tigers return seniors Taylor Williams and Loysha Morris who saw quite a bit of playing time in 2015-16 and gladly welcome the return of Breigha Wilder-Cochran who missed most of the season due to injury.
Â
"She's back," added McFerrin in reference to Wilder-Cochran. "That gives us a very important position where we are solid and we have an understanding of how things work."
Â
After having to sit out last season due to transfer rules, Memphis looks forward to Ashia Jones being able to hit the court in 2016-17. At UT Martin, Jones averaged over 18 points and six rebounds in 64 games. Jones was a 54.3 percent shooter from the field and finished her UT Martin career with 52 double-figure scoring games.
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Juniors Brea Elmore and Cheyenne Creighton will also be looked at to lead the team this season. Creighton is the team's top returning scorer and last year she led the squad with a .592 field goal percentage.
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The Tigers host 16 contests at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse with 13 contests on the road. Memphis' non-conference schedule features several Power Five conference opponents in Illinois, Kansas, Arkansas and Vanderbilt. Illinois is the only true road trip among those opponents, as Memphis hosts Kansas and Vanderbilt and faces Arkansas in the Nugget Classic over Thanksgiving break.
Â
The 2016-17 conference season is the Tigers' first 16-game league schedule since 2012-13, the program's last season in Conference USA. Memphis played a 16-game conference schedule from 2005-06 through 2012-13 in C-USA.
Â
This year, Memphis will have 12 games broadcasted including one on ESPN2, two on ESPNU and four on ESPN3. The Tigers had 12 games broadcasted last season, all but two of those games were on ESPN3 or the American Digital Network. For more information on the Memphis women's basketball team, follow us on Twitter at @MemphisWBKB.Â
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