Despite valiant second half, Memphis falls to UCF as conference play opens

Saturday, January 5

Memphis, Tenn.

4 p.m.

University of Memphis

UCF*

UCF

Memphis

Photo by: Matthew Smith

Despite valiant second half, Memphis falls to UCF as conference play opens

Jan 05, 2019 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis women's basketball team opened the 2019 American Athletic Conference slate with a 68-55 setback to UCF Saturday afternoon. The Tigers drop to 5-9 overall and 0-1 in AAC play.

Memphis outscored the Knights 42-32 in the second half, but the deficit built up in the first half proved to be too much to overcome. Taylor Barnes led Memphis offensively with 12 points and five assists while Brianna Porter pulled in a team-high seven rebounds, tying a career-high with six offensive boards.

Defense was the name of the game through the first 10 minutes of action, with UCF capturing a 9-8 lead at the first break. Jada Stinson scored five of the eight Memphis points including the first Tiger triple of the contest.

UCF used an explosive run in the second quarter to build a 36-13 lead at halftime.

Freshman Camille Buckhanon, who earned her first collegiate start, opened the second half with her first points of the contest. Buckhanon's basket ultimately ignited the Memphis offense into a 21-point third quarter.

The Tigers continued to chip away at the Knights lead and came as close as 11 on a Gazmyne Herndon three-pointer with less than a minute remaining in the game. Memphis finished with five made three-pointers in the final 10 minutes, including three by Jamirah Shutes.

Quick Notables:

Camille Buckhanon earned her first collegiate start against the Knights. She finished with two points, six rebounds and two blocks in 14 minutes.
Jada Stinson tied a season-high 10 points off the bench for the Tigers.
Taylor Barnes led Memphis with 12 points and five assists.
Memphis hit five three-pointers in the fourth quarter. The Tigers finished with eight three's, which is one shy of their season-high.
Memphis outrebounded UCF, 41-34, with 18 offensive boards.
Brianna Porter led the Tigers with six offensive rebounds, which ties a career-high.
The Tigers also finished with 19 fastbreak points compared to 10 by the Knights.

Memphis now hits the road to Tulsa for the first road American Athletic Conference game of the season. Tip-off on Jan. 9 is slated for 7 p.m. For more information on the Memphis women's basketball team, follow us on Twitter at @MemphisWBB.