University of Memphis Athletics
Lady Tigers to Open Thanksgiving Classic Friday
Nov 25, 2005 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 24, 2005
The Lady Tiger basketball team (0-2) will host the 21st Annual Lady Tiger Thanksgiving Classic beginning Friday at 6 p.m (CT). Memphis will host Austin Peay (0-1) in the first round of the tournament, while Clemson and Belmont will face off in the second game, 30 minutes following the completion of the Memphis game.
Fans who bring a canned food item will receive 2-for-1 admission. All collected food items will be donated to Memphis-area charities for the holiday season.
Memphis Home Opener
Austin Peay has been Memphis' home opening game two times in the last six seasons. Both times, Memphis prevailed (93-67 in 1999-2000 and 56-50 in 2002-03 in a game played in The Pyramid). Memphis is 26-7 in its home openers, last winning its home opener last year against Mercer, 54-40, and last losing its home opener in 1999-2000, falling 71-50 to Ole Miss.
In Its Home Tournament
This will be the 21st Annual Lady Tiger Thanksgiving Classic, a tournament title that Memphis has won 13 straight times. The last time Memphis opened the season on the road and didn't play at home until the home tournament was in 1997-98. Memphis was 0-2 that year heading into the tournament, and beat Northeastern Louisiana and Alcorn State to claim the tournament title.
About the Lady Tiger Thanksgiving Classic
This si the 21st year that Memphis has hosted the Lady Tiger Classic. Memphis will have its hands full in trying to win a 14th straight title. The last time a team other than the host Lady Tigers won the tournament was in 1991 when Oklahoma State claimed the crown.
Against Austin Peay
Memphis will have its hands full if it is to extent its series with the Lady Govs to 8-0. Memphis last faced Austin Peay in 2003-04 in Clarksville, escaping with a 81-70 victory after then-sophomore Tamika Butler shot the lights out with 30 points, which is still her career high.
About Belmont
Memphis is 1-2 against Belmont, having lost its last meeting in Nashville, 69-67, in 1977-78. The two schools have not faced one another since then, but Lady Tiger Head Coach Blair Savage is very familar with Belmont, having spent the 2003-04 season there as a member of the coaching staff.
Against Clemson
Clemson and the Lady Tigers have faced one another just one time before, and that was during the 1976-77 season, the first year of Memphis Lady Tiger basketball. The Clemson Lady Tigers prevailed in that meeting, 79-72.
Valuing the Basketball
Memphis has battled turnovers in the first two games of the season, commiting 29 at UL-Monroe and 32 at Arkansas. Arkansas turned the 32 turnovers in 46 points.
Butler Looking for 600 and 100
Senior point guard Tamika Butler is just 26 points shy of her 600th career point and just 11 three-point field goals shy for her 100th career trey. Only three other Lady Tigers have hit 100 or more threes for their respective careers (LaTonya Johnson, Kitty Allen, and Kelly Herron).
Necaise in Unfamiliar Territory
Junior guard Devin Necaise fouled out of the UL-Monroe game. It was the first time in her college career that she fouled out in 61 career games. She then picked up three first half fouls at Arkansas, having to sit out the last portion of the first half.
Reid Opens Season With Career High
Sophomore Marie Reid opened her second season with the Lady Tigers with a career-high 12 points at UL-Monroe. Reid averaged 1.8 points per game as a freshman for the Tigers.
