Tigers Women's Basketball Falls to George Washington Sunday

Sunday, December 6

Memphis, Tenn.

1 pm CT

University of Memphis

4-4

George Washington

6-3

George Washington

Memphis

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Tigers Women's Basketball Falls to George Washington Sunday

Dec 06, 2015 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Hearn scores 21 points, grabs seven boards in 68-62 setback.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – University of Memphis' Ariel Hearn had 21 points, seven rebounds and five steals, but it wasn't enough as George Washington came back from an early deficit to post a 68-62 non-conference victory over the Tigers at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse Sunday.

With the loss, Memphis falls to 4-4. The Colonials improve their record to 6-3. George Washington entered the game in the Also Receiving Votes category of both national polls (No. 27 AP; No. 29 USA Today Coaches).

Hearn's 21 points and seven rebounds were season highs. Her five steals tied a career best. Junior college transfer Loysha Morris was the Tigers' only other double-figure scorer with a season-best 12 points. She also handed out four assists.

George Washington's Jonquel Jones, a 2015-16 preseason All-America pick, posted a double-double of 18 points and 17 boards. She also had five assists and two blocked shots. Hannah Schaible (12 points) and Brianna Cummings (10) also scored in double digits for the visitors from Washington, D.C.

Unlike past home performances, Memphis got off to a fast start with some hot shooting in the first half. The Tigers hit nearly 50 percent from the field (46.9) and over 35 percent from the arc (35.7) in the opening two periods.

After a 2-2 tie in the opening minutes, Memphis went on an 8-0 run to grab a 10-2 advantage by the 6:44 mark of the first period. Mooriah Rowser and Hearn hit back-to-back three-pointers to lead the spurt. Minutes later, the hot shooting continued for Memphis, and when Breigha Wilder-Cochran converted a three-point play, the Tigers led 18-8 with 4:23 left. Memphis maintained its advantage and held a 22-14 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Tigers jumped on the Colonials again to open the second quarter, beginning the period on a 7-1 spurt to take a 31-15 lead. Hearn scored five points (layup, three-pointer) in the run, and Morris and Brea Elmore added baskets.

But, that's when the Colonials made their move to get back in the contest. George Washington closed the second quarter with a 14-5 run of its own to slice the Memphis advantage to 36-29 at halftime.

Memphis, once again, took control early in the third period. A Morris three-pointer gave the Tigers an eight-point lead at 41-33 at the 8:27 mark. George Washington, however, wasn't going down by double digits this time. A 12-5 Colonials' spurt over the next five minutes cut the Memphis lead to one at 46-45 with 3:50 to play in the third period.

The Tigers, though, had an answer. Rowser scored four points, and Hearn and Asianna Fuqua-Bey each added a basket to help Memphis take a 54-49 lead into the final quarter.

In the final period, Memphis battled early to hold off the Colonials and held a 56-51 advantage after two Hearn free throws with 8:40 left. George Washington then went on a 7-0 run to take its first lead of the contest at 58-56 on a Shannon Cranshaw layup with 5:30 left.

The Tigers tied the contest at 58-all, but the Colonials closed with a 10-4 spurt for the 68-62 final.

After their hot shooting first half, the Tigers was only 26.7 percent from the field in the second half and finish the game hitting 37.1 percent. George Washington didn't shoot much better, hitting 37.5 percent from the floor.

Memphis forced 19 George Washington turnovers while committing only 15 miscues. The difference for the Colonials was their huge advantage on the boards. George Washington entered Sunday's game with a +15.8 rebound margin, and the Colonials out-rebounded Memphis by a +26 margin (57-31).

The Tigers take a break from competition during this week for final exams. Memphis returns to action Saturday, Dec. 12 when its travels to Minneapolis, Minn., for a 2 p.m. (CT) contest against Minnesota.