Griggs paces Tigers in 37-point victory Friday

Friday, December 20

Memphis, Tenn.

5:30 PM

University of Memphis

8-4,0-0AAC

Mississippi Valley State

1-9,0-0SWAC

Mississippi Val.

Memphis

Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

Dec 20, 2019 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

The freshman from Memphis tied her school record with eight three-pointers

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Paced by a team-high 26 points and school-record eight three-pointers by freshman Madison Griggs, the University of Memphis women's basketball team extended its winning streak to four games with a 91-54 victory over Mississippi Valley State Friday evening. The Tigers have now won seven out of the last eight games and are off to their best start since the 2011-12 season with an 8-4 record.

Griggs tied her own school record with eight triples to lead the Tigers, marking the fifth time this season she has hit at least four three-pointers in a game this season. Five Tigers in all scored in double-digits in the commanding Memphis victory before the holiday break.

Both teams got off to a slow start offensively, but a 7-0 run in the final minute of the first quarter boosted Memphis to a 15-14 lead after 10 minutes of action. Alana Davis and Gazmyne Herndon were the sole contributors of Memphis' first run of the game.

The strong end to the first quarter ignited a 10-0 Memphis run through the first five minutes of the period. In addition to the offensive burst, the Tigers held Mississippi Valley State scoreless for nearly five minutes. A pair of second-chance free throws by the Devilettes halted Memphis' run.

Mississippi Valley State kept the Tigers close with under two minutes remaining in the half before Memphis rattled off a 6-0 run to separate itself once again for a 35-23 halftime score.

Memphis' lead grew to as many as 22 in the third quarter on a second-chance lay-up by Fankam Mendjiadeu. Freshman guard Madison Griggs hit two of her eight three-pointers in the third quarter to help the Tigers distance themselves from the Devilettes.

The Devilettes didn't go down easy against the Tigers as Mississippi Valley State cut the Memphis lead down to 11 with 7:02 remaining in the game with an 8-0 run. Griggs' fourth triple of the game snapped the Devilettes run and ultimately ignited a fourth quarter where Griggs hit five consecutive three-pointers for Memphis.

Just as quickly as the Devilettes cut the Memphis lead down to 11, the Tigers answered to go up by 31 with 1:12 on the clock. Memphis ultimately outscored Mississippi Valley State 31-13 in the final period of action, including an 18-0 run that ran out the clock.

Memphis finished the game shooting 50.0 percent from the floor and 42.1 percent from beyond the arc. The Tigers outrebounded the Devilettes, 42-28, and forced 28 Mississippi Valley State turnovers.

Tiger Tidbits

Madison Griggs paced the Tigers with 26 points on eight made three-pointers. Her 12 attempts were a new freshman record and her eight threes tied her previous school record set at Toledo on Nov. 24.
Griggs, with 34 made three-pointers to-date, ranks sixth all-time in program history for three-pointers made by a freshman.
Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu recorded her fifth double-double of the season with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
Memphis shot over 45.0 percent from the floor for the fourth straight game and the sixth game in the last seven outings.
Five Tigers scored in double-digits (Griggs, Fankam Mendjiadeu, Keke Hunter, Alana Davis and Gazmyne Herndon).
Davis' 17 points were a season-high.
Memphis also shot 87.5 percent (21-for-24) from the charity stripe.
This was the first time since Feb. 27, 2016 that Memphis scored at least 90 points.