Women's basketball tops Kansas State in Bahamas thriller

Friday, November 29

Bimini, Bahamas

2 PM

University of Memphis

4-3,0-0AAC

Kansas State

3-2,0-0Big 12

Memphis

Kansas St.

Photo by: UofM Athletic Media Relations

Women's basketball tops Kansas State in Bahamas thriller

Nov 29, 2019 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Jamirah Shutes scores a career-high 27 points in the victory

BIMINI, Bahamas – Led by sophomore Jamirah Shutes' career-high 27 points and a double-double by Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu, the University of Memphis women's basketball team defeated Kansas State in a thrilling opening game at the 2019 Junkanoo Jam in Bimini, Bahamas by a score of 72-68.

The Tigers will compete in the championship of the Bimini Division Saturday afternoon at 5:45 p.m. CT. Memphis takes on the winner of No. 15/16 Michigan State and LSU.

Memphis used a 24-4 run after the first media timeout of the third quarter to turn a nine-point deficit into an 11-point lead with 10 minutes remaining.

Kansas State battled back in the fourth quarter, cutting the lead down to two with 1:38 remaining before senior Gazmyne Herndon answered with a two-point basket in the paint to put the Tigers back up by four. The Tigers made three free throws in the final 18 seconds of the game to seal Memphis' first victory over a Power 5 opponent since Dec. 16, 2017 at Vanderbilt.

Memphis started the contest with a pair of baskets by Shutes and Fankam Mendjiadeu to take an early lead over Kansas State. The Wildcats responded with an 11-2 run to take the lead from the Tigers.

The Tigers maintained composure after the first media timeout to answer with a 5-0 run of their own to tie the contest at 11-11 with 3:31 remaining in the period. Just as K-State built a multi-possession lead over the Tigers, Memphis would respond. The Tigers trailed by just one at the quarter break, 16-15. Shutes led all players on the floor with nine points after 10 minutes of action.

Kansas State built as much as a five-point lead in the second quarter, but the Tigers continued to maintain resiliency against the Wildcats to pull within one at intermission.

The Tigers shot 46.8 percent from the floor compared to a 40.8 clip by the Wildcats. In addition to Fankam Mendjiadeu, Keke Hunter pulled down a career-high 10 rebounds.

Memphis resumes play at the Junkanoo Jam at 5:45 p.m. CT against the winner of No. 15/16 Michigan State and LSU. Continue to follow the Tigers in the Bahamas on social media at @MemphisWBB.

Tiger Tidbits

Jamirah Shutes led the Tigers in scoring for the fifth time this season. It was the fourth 20-point performance of the season for Shutes.
The 27-point performance was also Shutes' 10^th career 20-point game.
Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu finished with a career-high 14 points to go with 10 rebounds for her second career double-double.
Gazmyne Herndon also scored in double-digits for the third time this season with 11 points. She added nine rebounds and three assists for Memphis.
All nine players that played scored.
Memphis had two players record 10 rebounds for the first time since Gazmyne Herndon and Alana Davis achieved the feat vs. Tulane on Jan. 30, 2019.
In the third quarter, Memphis went 10-for-17 at a 58.8 percent clip.
Memphis outscored Kansas State in bench points, 15-11. The Tigers have scored more bench points than their opponents in every game this season.