Women’s Basketball Hosts Tennessee State In Home Opener Friday

Friday, November 10

Memphis, Tenn.

7:00 PM

University of Memphis

Tennessee State

Tickets

Photo by: Matthew Smith

Women’s Basketball Hosts Tennessee State In Home Opener Friday

Nov 09, 2017 | Women's Basketball

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Memphis enters Friday’s game 6-3 in home openers under Melissa McFerrin

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The time has come for the University of Memphis women's basketball team to kickoff the 2017-18 season and this year, the Tigers welcome Tennessee State in the home opener Friday evening at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse. Tipoff against TSU is slated for 7 p.m.

GAME ONE
Memphis vs. Tennessee State
Tip-off: 7 p.m.
Location: Elma Roane Fieldhouse
Promotion: Military Appreciation Night – T-Shirts and Pizza to the first 200 fans
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Friday evening begins the 10^th season of the Melissa McFerrin era at the University of Memphis. All-time in home openers at Memphis, McFerrin has guided the Tigers to a 6-3 overall record including wins in the previous four home openers. McFerrin comes into the 2017-18 with more than 200 career victories under her belt.

The Tigers had their first taste of competition last weekend when Memphis hosted Christian Brothers in an exhibition game and won 83-50. Memphis had four starters score in double-digits, led by All-Conference forward Cheyenne Creighton's 21 points and nine rebounds.

Alyssa Dean, a redshirt freshman who missed last season due to injury, had a solid first game in a Memphis uniform. Dean finished the game with 17 points and four rebounds with three made three-pointers. Brea Elmore added 12 points for the Tigers while Taylor Barnes rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points on 4-for-8 shooting and a team-best seven assists.

This season, the Tigers welcome five additions in juco transfer Jasmine James, freshmen Alana Davis, Finess Dickson, and Jada Stinson, and Division I transfer Manaya Jones to the roster. Jones will have to sit the 2017-18 season due to NCAA transfer rules.

A Look At Tennessee State
Tennessee State finished the 2016-17 season with a 10-16 overall record and 5-11 mark in Ohio Valley Conference play. The Tigers are under the direction of Jessica Kern, who is currently in her first season at the helm.

Eight freshman are on a Tennessee State roster that lost seven of the top nine scorers from a year ago. The returners combine for 29 starters including a combined 26 from Kaliya Green and Maxine Beard.

The Tigers were selected 12^th in the Ohio Valley preseason poll after finishing 11^th last season.

Series History With Tennessee State
Memphis carries a 6-1 all-time record against Tennessee State including wins in the previous four meetings. The first meeting against the Tigers was back in 1984 when Memphis State won by a 99-85 margin. The last time the two teams faced off was back in 2011 when Memphis won 88-64 at the Fieldhouse. All seven meetings have been in Memphis.

Final Details
Tipoff against Tennessee State is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse. It is encouraged for all fans to arrive earlier to the Fieldhouse as traffic and parking will be increased due to a concert on campus scheduled to begin at the same time.

Fans can hear the game on the air waves at 91.7 FM WUMR with Jeff Brightwell on the call. For more information on the Memphis women's basketball team, follow us on Twitter at @MemphisWBB.