Memphis Drops Exhibition Game To Lee Thursday

Thursday, November 3

Memphis, Tenn.

7:00 PM

University of Memphis

Lee University (Tenn.)

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Nov 03, 2016 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Taylor Williams led the Tigers in the exhibition setback

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Senior guard Taylor Williams led the University of Memphis women's basketball team with 11 points in the 52-44 setback to Lee University Thursday evening. Due to injury, the Tigers came into the game without redshirt-junior transfer Ashia Jones, who was the fourth-leading scorer in the nation in 2014-15 while at UT Martin.

After Lee jumped out in front of the Tigers in the opening minutes of the contest, a block by Brianna Porter backed by a fastbreak lay-up by Damonique Miller sparked a Memphis run to close out the first quarter on top. Milena Bajic dished a pass to Porter with nine seconds on the clock give Memphis its first lead of the night.

The Tigers continued to build on its lead in the second by holding Lee to just four points. At intermission, Memphis was ahead, 23-17.

The third quarter, however, proved to be one of the turning points in the contest in favor of the visiting Lady Flames. Lee got its scoring started in the third with a 10-2 run in the first three and a half minutes to force the fourth tie of the ballgame. What was a six-point Memphis lead at the half turned into as many as an eight-point lead for the visiting Lady Flames with 3:36 left in the third.

A lay-up by senior Loysha Morris with 3:20 on the clock sparked another Memphis run to close out the third quarter. The Tigers went on to score nine out of the next 10 points to tie the ballgame up at 36-36 with 10 minutes to play.

Lee jumped out once again in the fourth to regain its final lead over the Tigers.

Freshman Taylor Barnes finished the game with seven points and five rebounds in her first game as a Tiger. Porter led Memphis with eight rebounds while Cheyenne Creighton finished with seven. Williams and Morris each recorded three steals while the team collected 14 total for the night.

Memphis opens the regular season at home on November 11 vs. Missouri State. Tip-off against the Bears is slated for 7 p.m. at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse. For more information on the Memphis women's basketball team, follow us on Twitter and Facebook at @MemphisWBB.