Fankam Mendjiadeu leads Memphis women’s basketball past Liberty

Sunday, December 6

Memphis, Tenn.

4 PM

University of Memphis

1-2,0-0AAC

Liberty

1-3,0-0ASUN

Liberty

Memphis

Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

Fankam Mendjiadeu leads Memphis women’s basketball past Liberty

Dec 06, 2020 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Sophomore guard Griggs also turns in double-digit points against the Lady Flames.

MEMPHIS — Trailing by two with under four minutes to play, Memphis women's basketball used an 11-0 run to spark a 72-67 come-from-behind victory against Liberty on Sunday evening at Elma Roane Fieldhouse.

Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu had 23 points and 14 rebounds while Madison Griggs scored 16 to lead Memphis (1-2) in its first win of the young season. Six of Griggs' 16 points came within the last two minutes of play to help the Tigers complete the comeback bid. Freshmen also played a role in tonight's win as both Callie Wright and Coriah Beck were able to make scoring contribution against the Liberty Lady Flames.

To open the first period, the Lady Flames came out on fire. Liberty's Emily Lytle forced a foul by Griggs and went 2-2 at the free throw line to get the first points on the board. The Lady Flames' fast style of play posed a threat for Memphis, but the Tigers did not let that keep them out of the game. The Tigers shot 75% from the free throw line, which accounted for six of the 10 points scored in the first period. At the end of the quarter, Liberty led 13-10.

Two layups by Fankam Mendjiadeu early in the second period helped close the scoring margin to just one point. A jumper by Griggs gave Memphis a 16-15 lead with 6:58 left on the clock. Liberty's Audrey Clark had a three-pointer halfway through the period, which propelled the score to 20-16. Memphis immediately answered with back-to-back layups by forwards Wright and Fankum Mendjiadeu to tie the game 20-20. Memphis and Liberty both followed up with made threes to keep the game tied at 23-23 with 3:47 left on the clock. By the end of the half, Memphis led 27-25.

"I think that this is the Dulcy that we're going to see for the rest of the year," said Memphis head coach Melissa McFerrin. "We're going to see people crowding her, doubling her, just really trying to make her life difficult and she's going to continue to grow because she's going to have to manage that."

Early in the second half, both teams went back and forth with scoring to keep the game tied for the first two minutes of play. A three-pointer by Griggs gave the Tigers a 36-33 lead with 7:48 left on the clock. A layup and one by junior guard Jatjia 'Tye" Jones expanded the Tigers' lead to 38-33 soon after.

A three by Liberty's Ashtyn Baker tied the game 41-41 with 5:31 left in the period. The Lady flames followed up with two layups, which opened the scoring margin by four points. Fankum Mendjiadeu went 1-2 at the free throw line followed by a layup from sophomore forward Lanetta Williams to bring the score to 45-44 with 2:36 left on the clock. Both teams spent the remainder of the period going shot for shot, but Liberty ended up leading 49-48 by the end.

To open the final period, Fankam Mendjiadeu went 2-2 at the free throw line followed by a layup to give the Tigers a 52-49 lead. With 5:09 left on the clock, Liberty briefly took over the lead with a three by Lytle but a Fankam Mendjiadeu jumper tied the game 56-56. With just under two minutes left of play, a three by Griggs put the Tigers ahead 63-58. Another three by Wilson extended Memphis to a 66-58 lead.

Griggs went 2-2 at the free throw line with just over a minute left on the clock, but Liberty immediately came back with two consecutive three-pointers by Alyssa Iverson and Lytle in the last seven seconds of regulation to bring the score to 70-67. A foul by Liberty's Nenna Linstorm sent Wilson to the free throw line where she went 2-2- to cement the Tiger's first victory of the season.

"I was really proud of our team today," said McFerrin, "Tonight our kids were very excited, they managed the clock well at the end of the game and we just really played the game the right way today."

Memphis returns to action on Saturday, hosting McNeese State University at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse. Tipoff is set for 11 a.m. and the game can be seen on ESPN+.