Tigers fall in conference opener at Houston

Sunday, January 5

Houston, Texas

3 PM

University of Memphis

9-5,0-1AAC

Houston *

8-7,1-0AAC

Memphis

Houston

Photo by: Erik Williams

Jan 05, 2020 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Five players score in double figures, led by Gazmyne Herndon's 13 points

HOUSTON, Texas – The University of Memphis women's basketball team saw its winning-streak snapped Sunday afternoon as the Tigers fell to Houston by a score of 75-65 in the American Athletic Conference opener. Memphis falls to 9-5 on the year and 0-1 in AAC play.

Five players scored in double-digits for Memphis, led by senior guard Gazmyne Herndon's 13 points. The Tigers also posted two double-doubles in Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu and Keke Hunter. Fankam Mendjiadeu's double-double was her team-leading sixth of the season.

Through the first media timeout, it was a balanced effort on both sides of the ball. The Tigers saw a lead grow to as many as three with 6:16 on the clock before Houston responded with a 4-0 run.

Madison Griggs hit her team-leading 40^th three-pointer of the season after Fankam Mendjiadeu pulled in an offensive rebound on a missed free throw just under three minutes into the game.

Houston rattled off a 6-0 run through the dwindling minutes of the first quarter, but Griggs' second three-pointer of the game tied the contest at 16-16 with 2:42 on the clock.

The Cougars ultimately took a 22-18 lead at the first quarter break.

Memphis opened the second quarter on a 4-0 run to tie up the contest, 22-22. Houston again had an answer, holding a two- or four-point edge through the second quarter media timeout.

A lay-up by Alana Davis with 3:45 on the clock combined with a pair of free throws by Jamirah Shutes tied the contest back up at 30-30. Houston once again responded with a 5-0 run before Griggs knocked down her third three-pointer of the game with 1:28 before intermission.

Houston knocked down a buzzer-beating lay-up to end the half, taking a 39-33 lead against Memphis.

The Cougars built their lead to as many as 11 over the Tigers with 6:04 remaining in the third before Griggs hit her fourth trey to bring the score within eight, 50-42.

Griggs' three-pointer sparked a 7-0 Memphis run, cutting the Cougar lead down to four, 50-46, with 3:43 left in the third quarter. Houston ended the quarter, however, on a 7-2 run to take a nine-point lead into the final quarter of play.

Memphis cut Houston's lead down to four, 61-57, with back-to-back baskets by Fankam Mendjiadeu. Once again, Houston had an answer.

The Cougars hit back-to-back three-pointers with 2:20 on the clock to go back up 10 against the visiting Tigers. Memphis came within eight three more times in the contest, but untimely turnovers and Houston baskets kept momentum in favor of the Cougars.

The Tigers outrebounded Houston, 42-28, but committed eight more turnovers in the contest.

Memphis resumes play Wednesday evening at home against Cincinnati. Tipoff on the American Digital Network is slated for 7 p.m. at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse. For more information on the Memphis women's basketball team, follow the Tigers on social media at @MemphisWBB.

Tiger Tidbits

Madison Griggs hit four three-pointers for the seventh time this season. She now has a team-leading 43 three-pointers.
Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu posted her sixth double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Keke Hunter also recorded a double-double for Memphis, finishing with 11 points and 10 rebounds. It was her second double-double of the season.
This was the third time this season had Memphis five players score in double-digits.