Tigers Grab USF by the Horns in Comeback Victory

Wednesday, January 23

Tampa, Fla.

6 p.m.

University of Memphis

8-10, 3-2

USF*

11-8, 2-3

Memphis

USF

Photo by: Brandon Dill

Jan 23, 2019 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

The win marks the first road victory over the Bulls since January 28, 2001

TAMPA, Fla. – Down five with 1:20 remaining in the contest, the University of Memphis women's basketball team rattled off a 12-0 run, including six free throws by Taylor Barnes, to come away with a 47-40 victory over USF on the road Wednesday night.

The victory is the third-straight for the Tigers and improves Memphis to 8-10 overall and 3-2 in American Athletic Conference play. This is also the first win for the Tigers in Tampa since Jan. 28, 2001. Alana Davis and Barnes led Memphis with 11 points each.

After a slow start to the second half, the Tigers found themselves down as many as seven with 7:21 remaining on the clock. A pair of free throws by Davis and lock down defense by the Tigers saw Memphis down five with 1:20 remaining.

Brianna Porter went to the line with 1:20 remaining in the game to pull the Tigers within four. A quick offensive foul by USF granted Memphis the ball, and a lay-up by Porter on the ensuing drive pulled the Tigers within two.

Jamirah Shutes drove to the basket for her first points of the second half and ultimately completed an old-fashioned three-point play to give Memphis the final lead of the contest with 21 seconds remaining. Barnes finished the game off with six consecutive free throws.

"This is a great win for the Tigers," said head coach Melissa McFerrin. "This team is starting to turn the corner. We played great defense tonight. Our players went into lockdown tonight. I couldn't be more proud of our team today. This is a tough place to play."

The start of the contest remained even between the two teams as neither team gained more than a single possession lead. The Memphis defense locked down on USF and pushed the Bulls deep into the shot clock on several possessions. At the end of one, Memphis held a 14-12 advantage after shooting 50 percent from the floor.

Starting with a three-pointer by Jada Stinson and capped by a short baseline jumper by Stinson, the Tigers rattled off an 11-0 run to open the second quarter and build a 21-12 lead.

Memphis' lead grew to as many as 12 with 4:54 remaining in the second quarter before the Bulls stormed back with a 6-0 run, forcing the Tigers to use a first half timeout.

The Tigers remained disciplined until the first half horned sounded, as Memphis spent the final 6:47 of the second quarter with four team fouls without committing the fifth, which would have sent USF to the charity stripe. Memphis made the only trip to the free throw line in the first half, converting an and-one during the quarter.

Points were at a premium in the third, as it took almost four minutes for either team to score. USF locked down on defense in the third and took a five-point, 36-31 lead over the Tigers.

USF built its lead up to as many as seven before the Memphis comeback with 7:21 left in the third quarter took place.

The Tigers committed just 14 turnovers in the contest, compared to the 22 that they forced by USF. Shutes finished with nine points and led Memphis with four assists. Gazmyne Herndon was tasked with guarding the reigning AAC Rookie of the Week, Sydni Harvey, and did so successfully, only allowing her five points and forcing nine turnovers.

Quick Notables

This was the first Memphis road victory against USF since Jan. 28, 2001.
Brianna Porter registered her team-leading 16^th block of the season in the third quarter. She finished the game with two blocks.
Porter scored a season-high five points for Memphis.
Jamirah Shutes registered a season-high four assists for the third time this season.
Memphis held USF to just one made three-pointer, a season-low.
The Tiger defense held the Bulls to 31.1 percent shooting, marking the 11^th time an opponent has failed to shoot 40 percent against Memphis.
The 40 points that USF scored was a season-low. The Bulls entered the game averaging 69.2 points per contest.

Memphis remains on the road with a trip to Cincinnati Saturday afternoon. The Tigers and Bearcats square off at 1 p.m. CT at Fifth Third Arena. For more information on the Memphis women's basketball team, follow the Tigers on social media at @MemphisWBB.