Tigers Women's Basketball Hosts Cincinnati Saturday

Saturday, February 6

Memphis, Tenn.

2 pm CT

University of Memphis

Cincinnati

Tickets

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Tigers Women's Basketball Hosts Cincinnati Saturday

Feb 05, 2016 | Women's Basketball

Saturday is Memphis' Play 4Kay/Battle Against Cancer Game.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – On Saturday, the University of Memphis women's basketball team hosts longtime rival Cincinnati in an American Athletic Conference contest. Game time is 2 p.m. (CT) at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse. While Memphis and Cincinnati fight for an on-the-court victory, both teams and fans will be united Saturday in a much larger battle – the battle against cancer.

The Tigers host their annual Play 4Kay Game Saturday, and fans wearing pink to the game will receive free admission. Those in attendance also will receive pink pom-poms and rally towels. The Memphis players will wear pink uniforms and shoes.

Also, at halftime, sophomore Brea Elmore's mother, Dianne, will be celebrated for her fight against cancer.

Throughout the month of February, collegiate women's basketball programs across the nation will host Play 4Kay games.

"This game Saturday is just our part of bringing awareness to the fight against cancer," said Tigers assistant coach Erin Grant. "We compete on the basketball court, but there are those competing in life to battle this disease every day."

As for the game itself, Memphis looks for a season sweep of the Bearcats. The Tigers won this season's first meeting, a 64-47 victory at Fifth Third Arena Jan. 7. Memphis only held a 38-29 lead at halftime, but used a 13-4 second-half opening run to grab a 51-33 advantage and take control of the contest.

"We know we are facing a really good team in Cincinnati, and they want to come in here and try to steal one from us here since we won earlier at their place," said Grant. "In our first meeting, we did a good job in stretching out our runs and taking advantage of our opportunities in the open court. We hope to do that again."

Radio: 91.7 FM (WUMR)
Internet Video: ESPN3.com/WatchESPN
Live Stats: memphis.statbroadcast.com
LiveTweet: @MemphisWBKB, #MEMWBKB, #GoTigersGo

Tigers Tidbits/Five Notes To Know
• Saturday's game is Memphis' Pay 4Kay contest. During the month of February, women's college basketball is bringing the fight against cancer through the Play 4Kay initiative. The Tigers will wear pink uniforms and shoes during today's game. Pink pom-poms and rally towels also will be given to fans. Fans that come to the game wearing pink will receive free admission.

• Memphis holds a 34-14 series lead and has won the last four meetings. The Tigers won this season's earlier match-up, a 64-47 victory in Cincinnati Jan. 7. In games played in the Bluff City, Memphis holds a 16-5 series advantage. Last season, Memphis defeated the Bearcats 41-38 at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse.

• Speaking of last season's game at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse, the combined 79 points (Memphis 41, Cincinnati 38) were the fewest in a Tigers game since 1976-77. The 41 points scored by the Tigers were the fewest in a victory since Memphis defeated Austin Peay 39-33 in the 1973-74 season.

• Saturday's game may have an awkward feeling for two coaches on separate benches. Memphis first-year associate head coach Darryl Brown and Cincinnati fourth-year assistant coach Tasha (McDowell) Brown are husband and wife. The couple married in August of 2015.

• Fans in attendance Saturday may witness basketball history — and not just women's basketball history. Senior Ariel Hearnneeds three rebounds and one assist to become the only player — male or female — to join an elite group all her own. If she grabs the three boards and hands out the one assist, the Memphis, Tenn., native would have 1,500 points, 500 rebounds and 400 assists. At that time, Hearn would be the only player — male or female — in school history to do so. The 5-foot-8 guard enters today's game with 1,804 points, 497 rebounds and 399 assists for her career.

Scouting Cincinnati
The Bearcats bring a 7-14 overall record and a 3-7 league mark into today's conference encounter. Cincinnati fell in its last outing, an 82-49 loss at No. 19 USF Feb. 3. Overall, the Bearcats have a 2-6 record away from home. The Bearcats return three starters and six letterwinners from their 2014-15 team. Sophomore Ana Owens leads three Bearcats averaging double figures at 14.1 ppg. Jasmine Whitfield (12.7 ppg) and Alyesha Lovett (12.0 ppg) also average double digits. Lovett (6.0 rpg) and Whitfield (5.9 rpg) are the squad's top-two leading rebounders. Owens is Cincinnati's top three-point threat, hitting 33.3 percent from the arc. Cincinnati is shooting 33 percent from the floor, 27.9 percent from the three-point arc and 71.2 percent from the free throw line. Opponents are out-rebounding the Bearcats by an average margin of +8.2 boards per game (36.8-45.0).