University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
9-7,0-3AAC
Tulane *
8-8,3-0AAC
Green Wave Edges Memphis in New Orleans, 59-55
Jan 11, 2020 | Women's Basketball
Julan McDonald scored a career-high 12 points in the setback
NEW ORLEANS – With Tulane (8-8, 3-0 The American) leading 58-55 with nine seconds to play, freshman guard Madison Griggs' three-point attempt from the left shoulder rolled around and off the rim and prevented Memphis (9-7, 0-3 The American) from stealing a conference road win at Tulane Saturday. The Green Wave defeated the Tigers by a 59-55 margin.
Memphis trailed at the half, 38-29, as the Green Wave zone stifled the Memphis offense in the early going.
Tulane jumped out to quick 8-2 lead, but once the Tigers saw the zone a few trips down the floor, the Tigers used three straight points from Julan McDonald to stay within range, down 17-14 at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter saw the Tigers battle turnovers and whistles. Memphis put Tulane in the bonus with 6:20 to play in the second and the Green Wave made the visiting team pay, hitting 10-of-15 attempts in the quarter to balloon the Tiger deficit to as many as 15. The Green Wave also converted nine Memphis turnovers to 14 points in the opening half of the game.
But Memphis started to turn defensive rebounds in to quick points in transition, using a 6-0 run in the final three minutes to cut the deficit to single digits at the break, 38-29.
The defense got a big jump to start the second half, forcing shot clock violations in two of the first three Green Wave possessions with a bigger lineup on the floor. The deficit, which was double-digits with 9:51 to go, would get trimmed to seven at 40-33 off a McDonald bucket.
Tulane pushed the lead to double digits again at 46-33 with 4:42 to go, but Memphis ended the quarter on a 7-0 run, trailing 46-41.
In the fourth quarter, Memphis finally got the score to even off Griggs' first field goal of the afternoon, tying the game at 48 with 7:34 to play. But the tie was short-lived as Arsula Clark got an offensive rebound and found Sierra Cheatham, who drained a three from the top of the key on the next possession to give Tulane a lead it would never relinquish.
Jamirah Shutes led Memphis with 13 points and had a team-high four assists. McDonald added a career-high 12 points and Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu led the team with 10 rebounds.
Clark led Tulane with 17 points, including an 11-for-11 stroke at the free-throw line. Krystal Freeman added 13 points and a game-high five assists in the win.
Memphis returns home to host top-ranked UConn, Tuesday night, in the Elma Roane Fieldhouse. That game tips at 7 p.m. and tickets are available online at www.GoTigersGoTix.com.
-www.gotigersgo.com-
