Valiant effort falls short as No. 4 UConn downs Tigers

Tuesday, January 14

Memphis, Tenn.

7 PM

University of Memphis

9-8,0-4AAC

UConn *

14-1,5-0AAC

UConn

Memphis

Photo by: Kaitlyn Becker Johnson

Valiant effort falls short as No. 4 UConn downs Tigers

Jan 14, 2020 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Fankam Mendjiadeu posts seventh double-double to pace Memphis

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis women's basketball team put up a valiant effort against No. 4 UConn at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse, but fell by a score of 68-56 Tuesday evening. The setback drops Memphis to 9-8 overall and 0-4 in American Athletic Conference play.

Memphis was led offensively by junior forward Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu, who posted her seventh double-double of the season with 21 points and 10 rebounds. It was Fankam Mendjiadeu's second 20-plus point performance of the 2019-20 campaign. Freshman guard Madison Griggs also had a memorable night for the Tigers, becoming the all-time freshman leader for three-pointers in a season. Her third triple of the contest was her record-breaking 48^th three-pointer this season.

The Tigers came out firing on all cylinders on defense, forcing back-to-back Connecticut turnovers. Just as Memphis jumped out to a fast start on defense, the Tigers scored first and quickly took a 6-2 lead over the visiting Huskies.

Memphis' lead to grew to as many as six after Fankam Mendjiadeu knocked down a pair of free throws with 7:32 remaining in the first quarter.

The Huskies answered Memphis' fast start with an 11-0 run of its own through the heart of the first quarter. But the Tigers responded.

Alana Davis' second basket of the contest with 3:02 left in the first quarter ended UConn's run and proved to be a momentum shift as Memphis rattled off its own 11-0 run to take the lead back. The Tigers had a 21-15 lead after the first quarter. Fankam Mendjiadeu played a crucial role in the quarter, scoring a floor-high 10 points.

Connecticut responded once again with a 5-0 run to start the second quarter. Jamirah Shutes knocked down her first basket of the game to halt the UConn run, giving Memphis a 23-20 lead.

Memphis' offense slowed up in the second quarter, but the visiting Huskies were unable to shift momentum. Aerial Wilson's stepback triple with under a minute to play in the half lifted Memphis back to a one-point, 33-32, lead. A three on the next possession by the Huskies, however, gave the visitors an edge at halftime.

UConn opened the second half with a quick 4-0 run to push the lead back to six. Memphis was able to slow the Husky offense enough to stay close. Sticking to its guns defensively, the Tigers were able to keep the lead from reaching double-digits until the final minute of the third quarter.

With just over two minutes remaining in the third, Griggs' three-pointer that cut the lead to four tied the Memphis record for three-pointers made in a season (47). A 7-0 run by the Huskies pushed the lead to 11, but a hook-shot from Fankam Mendjiadeu with 10 seconds left in the quarter kept the lead at single-digits as the teams went to the final period.

After a 6-0 run to start the fourth, Memphis found itself within arm's reach of taking the lead back, down only three. Once UConn ended the Tigers' run and hit back-to-back baskets, Griggs knocked down her third triple of the contest, breaking the freshman record set by LaTonya Johnson during the 1994-95 season.

The five-point differential after Griggs' triple proved to be the closest Memphis would come for the remainder of the contest.

Memphis committed just 12 turnovers while forcing 13 by the Huskies. UConn did, however, outrebound Memphis, 38-35.

Tiger Tidbits

Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu recorded her seventh double-double of the season with a team-leading 21-point, 10-rebound performance.
Keke Hunter also recorded double-digit rebounds for the fifth time this season.
Madison Griggs went 3-for-7 from beyond the arc, marking the ninth game this season she has hit at least three, three-pointers in a game.
Griggs broke the school record for three-pointers made in a single season. She currently has 48, breaking LaTonya Johnson's record of 47 set during the 1994-95 season.
The 21 points in the first quarter and 56 points scored in the game both mark series highs for Memphis against UConn.
UConn entered the game averaging 79.7 points per game and 38.3 percent from beyond the arc. Memphis held the Huskies to 68 points and 32.0 percent from three.