Tigers knock off second-place Tulane at home

Tuesday, February 4

Memphis, Tenn.

7 PM

University of Memphis

12-10,3-6AAC

Tulane *

12-11,7-3AAC

Tulane

Memphis

Photo by: Brandon Dill

Feb 04, 2020 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu records ninth double-double of the season in win

By: Jen Hannah

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis women's basketball team evened the season series against Tulane Tuesday evening with a 64-62 victory at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse. The win improves Memphis to 12-10 overall and 3-6 in American Athletic Conference play.

Junior forward Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu continued to be a force inside for the Tigers, posting a team-high 15 points to go along with 11 rebounds for her ninth double-double of the 2019-20 campaign. Freshman Madison Griggs had a solid showing in 29 minutes for Memphis, knocking down four three-pointers for 12 points.

Griggs put the Tigers on the board first, knocking down her first triple of the game. Within the first three minutes, Memphis had a 7-2 lead over the visiting Green Wave.

With three baskets from beyond the arc in the first quarter, Tulane never let Memphis gain more than a two-possession lead in the first stanza.

Tulane used a 9-0 run through the middle of the first quarter to build a 17-12 lead against Memphis. The Tigers responded as Aerial Wilson knocked down her first basket of the game with 1:46 on the clock. That response resulted in a 6-0 run and a 18-17 Memphis first quarter lead.

Defense was the name of the game in the first 3:13 of the second quarter for both teams before Fankam Mendjiadeu knocked down a pair of free throws to give Memphis a 20-17 lead.

The Green Wave rattled off a 5-0 run to regain the lead over Memphis with 5:29 before intermission. Memphis response this time was an 11-1 run to take an eight-point lead into the half. Gazmyne Herndon recorded a steal in the final seconds of the half that resulted in a look inside to Keke Hunter to give Memphis the 31-23 edge.

Wilson continued to be efficient from beyond the arc to start the third quarter as she knocked down her sixth triple in the last seven attempts to give Memphis its first double-digit lead of the game.

Tulane once again responded, hitting four three-pointers in the third quarter to cut Memphis' lead down to two with 6:03 on the clock. A lay-up by Herndon combined with an offensive rebound and put back by Alana Davis quickly saw Memphis' lead grow back to six, 43-37.

Memphis' lead grew to as many as nine in the closing minutes of the third quarter before the Green Wave hit a basket at the buzzer to cut the Tigers lead down to seven.

The Tigers came out firing in the fourth quarter, quickly building their lead back up to 11 with a pair of three-pointers by Griggs and a driving lay-up by Herndon. Just as momentum appeared to shift in favor of Memphis, Tulane had a response.

Trailing by four with 3:46 on the clock, Tulane knocked down its 10^th triple to cut Memphis' lead down to one, 57-56. Fankam Mendjiadeu responded on the next possession, receiving a dime from Herndon on a Memphis fastbreak.

After establishing a six-point advantage with 1:22 remaining, Memphis held on as Tulane's desperation three-pointer fell just short at the buzzer.

The Tigers committed 16 turnovers while forcing 19 by the Green Wave. Memphis also won the rebounding battle, 38-36, and finished with 16 assists on 25 made baskets. Herndon finished with a well-rounded stat line, posting seven points, six rebounds and seven assists for Memphis. Wilson and Julan McDonald each recorded three steals for Memphis.

Memphis returns to action this Friday with a road trip to Storrs, Conn. to take on No. 4 UConn at Gampel Pavilion. Tipoff against the Huskies is slated for 6 p.m. CT. For more information on the Memphis women's basketball team, follow the Tigers on social media at @MemphisWBB.