University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
Lipscomb
Lady Tigers Win 16th Lady Tiger Classic Crown
Nov 25, 2006 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 25, 2006
MEMPHIS, Tenn - Led by double-digit points from three players and a chippy defense that forced Lipscomb into 26 turnovers, the Memphis Lady Tiger basketball team (2-5) edged Lipscomb, 57-55, for their 16th Lady Tiger Classic crown, Saturday night.
"I thought our intensity was much better," head coach Blair Savage-Lansden said. "And more importantly, when they went on their run, we leaned on one another and worked to turn up our intensity level as well."
The game started with both teams struggling to get in to an offensive flow, as Memphis was held without a three-point field goal in the first half for the second time in three games, putting pressure on the Lady Tigers to drive and convert in the lane. Lipscomb battled uncharacteristic turnovers throughout the first half, committing 18 of their 26 turnovers in the first 20 minutes.
"Lipscomb is a very well-coached team," Savage said. "Frank (Bennett) does a good job of putting them in a good position to win and their team is very smart and seldom makes mistakes. Our defense forced them to make more mistakes than usual tonight, and we capitalized on the other end."
Memphis took the 10-9 lead at the 13:39 mark in the first half as Wooddale's Paris Leonard stole the ball and went the length of the court for a lay-up. The Lady Tigers would not relinquish that lead for the remainder of the game, including a 29-22 half time lead.
"Paris Leonard probably played the best defense she has all year, which led to some good looks for her on the offensive end of the floor. We need to continue to build on that type of effort for everyone on the defensive end now going forward in the season," Savage said.
The win in the tournament game marked the first time Memphis has led for a majority of the game, but Lipscomb remained within range the entire night, never trailing by double digit points, but never able to get closer than two points.
"We watched the tape from the night before and talked about how when we got the lead Friday night (against Central Arkansas), we let up in our intensity," Savage said. "We really stressed the importance of finishing plays and remaining intense during shoot-around this morning."
The Memphis win marked the fifth win in as many tries for the Lady Tigers against Lipscomb, but again, the series had another exciting finish, as Lipscomb in-bounded the ball with 0.9 seconds remaining. Catie Woods corralled a loose ball, managing to hit a three-point field goal, but not before the horn expired. That marks the second time in as many meetings that Lipscomb has hit a shot close to the buzzer sounding, only to have it disallowed as the Lady Bisons had a Katie Rollins jumper waived off in the Memphis win in Nashville last season. In all four previous meetings, Memphis only won by 10 points one time. The other three meetings were decided by a combined 10 points.
Memphis was led by Leonard's game-high 14 points, while Devin Necaise, the tournament MVP, added 13 points. Freshman Robin Jones, in her second career start, had 12 points, her first double-digit scoring night of her career, and seven rebounds in the victory. Freshman point guard Se'erra Fantroy led all players with five steals, adding six points and five assists.
Lipscomb had two players in double-digits, led by Woods' 11 points. Julie Martin added 10 points, five of them from the free-throw line, and Penny Jones led all players with 11 rebounds.
Memphis will next play on the road at No. 8 Georgia, Wednesday, while Lipscomb will return home to host Tennessee State, Monday.
