University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
South Florida
Lady Tigers Defeat USF, 89-84
Jan 13, 2000 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 13, 2000
MEMPHIS, TENN. - The University of Memphis Lady Tiger basketball team prevailed with an 89-84 win Thursday night, over a strong South Florida squad which came into tonight's game with a 10-4 record. The Lady Tigers (8-7, 2-2 Conference USA) are now riding on a ten game winning streak in the Elma Roane Fieldhouse.
The first half was back and forth with Memphis trailing the majority of the half until sophomore forward Melissa Abraham hit a lay-up with 3:08 left in the half to make the score 33-31 in favor of Memphis. At the one-minute mark , junior forward Tiffany Collins hit a lay-up that gave Memphis a five-point lead. After a South Florida turnover, Collins hit another lay-up with 30 seconds left in the half, and the Lady Tigers were up by seven. The Bulls fought back and got a last second lay-up by Sarah Wilson before the buzzer to cut the Lady Tigers lead to five at the half.
The second half was just as intense and was tied 81-81 with just under two-minutes to play. With 1:30 left, junior forward Tiffany Adkins made a key lay-up, was fouled and finished a three-point play the old fashioned way. Memphis gained the lead 84-81 and then freshman center Shannon Hamp came through with a lay-up with 1:20 left on the clock and stretched the lead to four points, 86-82. The Bulls made two free throws on the ensuing possession which cut Memphis's lead to just two points. A key USF turnover and a lay-up by Collins sealed up the win.
Tiffany Adkins, scored a career-high 24 points to lead all scorers and becomes only the third player to score twenty-or-more points this season for the Lady Tigers. Freshman center, Shannon Hamp chipped in with eighteen points and sophomore forward Melissa Abraham added 10 and registered two blocks in 23 minutes of action.
The high scorer for the Bulls was Monica Echeverria with 19 points and four rebounds. Also scoring in double figures were Aiya Shepard who scored 16 points and Shannon Layne who dropped in 14. Dione Smith, eventually fouled out of the game but finished with a well-earned 12 points, including 3-of-3 shooting from behind the arc. Smith, had only hit one three-pointer before tonight's game.
Overall, the lead changed hands ten times throughout the game.
The Lady Tigers will host the Houston Lady Cougars on Saturday, Jan. 15, in the Elma Roane Fieldhouse. Tip-off for that meeting is set for 3 p.m.
