University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
7-914-15; AAC
Tulane
7-916-13; AAC
Williams Three-Pointer Gives Tigers Narrow Win On Senior Day
Feb 27, 2017 | Women's Basketball
Williams’ triple with 20.8 seconds left gave the senior a team-high 19 points in the win
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – In a battle between two teams vying for position heading into the American Athletic Conference Tournament in Uncasville, Connecticut on March 3-6, it was a Taylor Williams three-point basket from the top of the key with 20.8 seconds to play that gave the Memphis Tigers a 57-56 win on senior night over Tulane.
Prior to the game the program recognized seniors Loysha Morris and Williams, and both were key contributors in the narrow victory. The win gave the Tigers a tie for fifth place in the league standings, part of a four-way tie place along with Tulane, SMU, and Cincinnati. Due to the tiebreakers in place by the conference, Memphis will be the No. 8 seed in the upcoming Conference Tournament.Â
How It Happened
Memphis jumped out quickly, scoring the first four points of the game. The Tigers kept the pressure on Tulane, not allowing the Green Wave a run larger than 2-0 until the second quarter, by which time Memphis had ran off a 10-point, 19-9 advantage.
Tulane used three-pointers to climb back into the game, making four in the second quarter, and a 6-0 mid-quarter run from the Green Wave drew the teams even at 24-24. Memphis answered back with a 5-0 run on a Brea Elmore three-pointer and two Cheyenne Creighton free throws, as the Tigers took a 31-27 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Back-to-back threes from Tulane's Kolby Morgan gave the visitors their first lead of the game a minute into the second half. The Green Wave then led by two at 37-35 before Memphis ran off five straight points, including two on a Creighton lay-in, that pushed Memphis ahead 40-37. Tulane closed the third quarter on a 6-2 run, sending the visitors into a one-point lead heading into the final 10 minutes of play.
Tulane jumped out quickly to start the fourth quarter, scoring eight of the first 11 points and leading by six; however, the Memphis defense held the Green Wave to just five points over the final six minutes of action, while at the same time scoring a dozen points, including Williams' game-winning three-pointer.
Turning Point
Trailing by six points with six minutes to play, the Memphis defense held Tulane to 2-of-6 shooting over the final stretches of the game, and out-scored the visitors 12-5 the rest of the way in clinching a tie for fifth place in the league standings.
Notables
-                 Brea Elmore's three-pointer in the second quarter made it the 21st straight game she has made a three-pointer.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Memphis improves to 11-3 on the season when leading at halftime.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Loysha Morris made the first basket on her senior night.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Taylor Williams scored 19 points, the 17th time this season in which she has scored in double-digits and 12th time she has led the team in scoring.Â
-                 Cheyenne Creighton scored 18 points – her 25th double-digit game this season.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Memphis is 2-0 this season in games played on Monday.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Memphis ended the Conference season tied for fifth place after being picked seventh in the preseason coaches poll.
Next Up For The Tigers
Memphis will now travel to Uncasville, Conn. for the American Athletic Conference Tournament to take on No. 9 seeded Tulsa at 3:00 p.m. CT on ESPN3. For more information on the Memphis women's basketball team, follow the Tigers on Twitter at @MemphisWBB or go online to www.gotigersgo.com.
