Three Tigers Score In Double-Figures In Setback To No. 23 USF

Wednesday, January 17

Memphis, Tenn.

7:00 PM

University of Memphis

7-11, 2-3AAC

#23 USF

15-4, 5-1AAC

USF

Memphis

Photo by: Matthew Smith

Three Tigers Score In Double-Figures In Setback To No. 23 USF

Jan 17, 2018 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Taylor Barnes led Memphis with 18 points

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis women's basketball team fell in a hard-fought contest against No. 23 USF Wednesday evening at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse by a score of 81-62. The Tigers were within five of the Bulls through three quarters of action before a strong fourth quarter pulled the top-25 team ahead of Memphis.

Memphis falls to 7-11 on the year and 2-3 in American Athletic Conference play with another road trip on the horizon next weekend against Cincinnati.

How It Happened
USF opened the first quarter with a 15-7 lead over Memphis and took the early advantage over the Tigers because of the rebounding aspect of the game. The Bulls outrebounded Memphis 17-7 in the first quarter, which included nine offensive boards.

The Tigers battled back in the second quarter and an 11-2 run capped by a Cheyenne Creighton jumper gave Memphis its first lead of the contest. Memphis proceeded to outscore USF 23-14 in the second and held a 30-29 halftime lead after Brea Elmore knocked down a three-pointer at the buzzer.

The Bulls responded and used an 8-0 run through the heart of the third quarter to regain the lead over the Tigers. Creighton knocked down her third three of the contest at the end of the third to pull within five of the visiting Bulls.

USF continued to feed, however, off the momentum it built in the third quarter. The Bulls rattled off a 17-0 to start the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach of the Tigers.

Turning Point
Runs of 8-0 and 17-0 by USF in the third and fourth quarter pulled the Bulls away from the Tigers.

Notables

Memphis had three scorers in double-figures in Cheyenne Creighton, Brea Elmore, and Taylor Barnes.
Memphis held USF's leading scorer, Kitija Laksa, scoreless in the first half.
Cheyenne Creighton hit a career-high three, three-pointers including one as time expired in the third quarter.
Taylor Barnes led Memphis with 18 points, a season-high. It was her seventh double-digit performance of the year.
Brea Elmore hit three, three-pointers and finished with 16 points for Memphis.
Jada Stinson led the Tigers with five assists.
Memphis went 8-for-16 from beyond the arc. The eight three-pointers Memphis hit matched a season-high for the Tigers.

Melissa McFerrin Quotable
I thought for three quarters we kept the score down. We played well for three quarters. I'm disappointed because I thought we could play better than that, but we couldn't stay with them in the end.

Next Up For The Tigers
Memphis hits the road again for a Sunday afternoon contest at Cincinnati. The Tigers and the Bearcats will play at St. Ursula Academy in Cincinnati, Ohio at 1 p.m. CT. The game can be heard on 91.7 FM WUMR and for more information on the Memphis women's basketball team, follow the Tigers on Twitter at @MemphisWBB.