Women's Hoops To Host Missouri State In Season Opener

Friday, November 11

Memphis, Tenn.

7:00 PM

University of Memphis

Missouri State

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Women's Hoops To Host Missouri State In Season Opener

Nov 10, 2016 | Women's Basketball

Memphis Game Notes Watch Live Stats

Tigers welcome Bears to Elma Roane Fieldhouse to kick-off 2016-17 regular season

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis women's basketball team opens up the 2016-17 regular season Friday night at home with a game against Missouri State at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse. Tip-off against the Bears is scheduled for 7 p.m.

GAME 1
Memphis vs. Missouri State
Tip-off: 7 p.m.
Location: Elma Roane Fieldhouse
Watch | Live Stats | Season Tickets

"We love it at home and we try and work out our schedule every year so we get many, many home opportunities," said head coach Melissa McFerrin. "We love playing in the Elma Roane Fieldhouse as do our players."

Last season, the home schedule was very kind to the Tigers as Memphis finished with a 12-5 record at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse. Memphis is currently riding a three-game winning streak in home openers. Since head coach Melissa McFerrin took over the Memphis program in 2008, the Tigers are 88-44 at home.

The Tigers and the Bears are tied all-time, 2-2. Memphis won the last meeting on Nov. 14, 2014 by a score of 79-63. The first meeting between the two squads was during the 1972-73 season and the formerly called Southwest Missouri State defeated Memphis State by a score of 47-40.

Cheyenne Creighton, a junior forward for the Tigers, is the top returning scorer from the 2015-16 season with over six points per game. She also led the team in field goal percentage, coming in just shy of 60 percent for the year as a sophomore. Her experience is joined by seniors Taylor Williams and Loysha Williams, as well as redshirt junior Briegha Wilder-Cochran and junior Brea Elmore.

Missouri State enters into the season opener after coming off of a 24-win season just a year ago. With 24 victories including a Missouri Valley Tournament title last season, the Bears earned a berth to the 2016 NCAA Tournament. Missouri State went on to fall in the first round to Texas A&M by a score of 74-65.

"Missouri State is a team that won 24 games a year ago and they had significant graduation losses, as did we," said McFerrin. "I think you're going to find two teams that are very hungry, but also trying to figure out roles."

In program history, Missouri State has made 14 appearances in the NCAA Tournament, won 27 conference championships, and are the 2005 WNIT National Champions.

Junior guard Liza Fruendt is MSU's leading returning scorer after averaging 11.0 points last season. She also hit 59 three-pointers a season ago. Lexi Hughes comes into the season with 120 made 3's in her career and led the Missouri Valley Conference in three-point accuracy in 2014.

The Bears are led by Kellie Harper who is in her fourth season at Missouri State. The former Tennessee Volunteer is in her 13^th season overall as a head coach and has a 223-171 overall record.

Memphis has 16 total regular season home games scheduled for the 2016-17 season, highlighted with Big 12 opponent Kansas, as well as perennial powers Vanderbilt and Louisiana Tech, as well as a full slate of conference games. For tickets, visit the athletic ticket office or call 901-678-2331. Tickets are available for purchase the day of the game with CASH only at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse.

For more information on the Memphis women's basketball team, follow us on Twitter at @MemphisWBB.