Women's Basketball Claims First-Round AAC Championship Win Over SMU

Friday, March 6

Uncasville, Conn.

7:00 PM

University of Memphis

14-16,4-12AAC

SMU

13-16,7-9AAC

Memphis

SMU

Photo by: (Dustin Satloff/American Athletic Conference)

Women's Basketball Claims First-Round AAC Championship Win Over SMU

Mar 06, 2020 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Madison Griggs hits tournament freshman record seven three-pointers

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Playing SMU for the second time in five days, the Memphis women's basketball team flipped the script to win its first-round matchup over the Mustangs Friday night by way of a 76-65 final score.

Madison Griggs set a pair of AAC Championship freshman records, hitting seven three-pointers and scoring 24 points. Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu added 17 points and 10 rebounds for her 14^th double-double of the season.

The first quarter was an even affair, as the teams opened the game in evenly matched form. Memphis started with balanced scoring, with six of the seven Tigers scoring in the opening period. Griggs hit her first triple of the game to start the scoring for Memphis.

Memphis started to grab momentum in the second, building a four-point lead through the early minutes, attacking the paint and getting to the free throw line. Fankam Mendjiadeu completed an old-fashioned three-point play with 8:51 left in the quarter to bolster Memphis' lead. Griggs added three triples in the quarter to help Memphis build a 38-32 lead going into halftime.

The second half saw Memphis build its lead to double-figures multiple times, as Memphis responded to every SMU threat. Individual Tigers scored in waves, as personal scoring runs from Griggs, Fankam Mendjiadeu, Gazmyne Herndon and Julan McDonald paved the way. Heading into the fourth, the Tigers held a double-digit lead, seemingly having all of the momentum in its favor.

Memphis kept the game on ice in the fourth quarter, keeping every SMU attempt at a comeback at bay. Griggs splashed home all three of her three-point attempts in the quarter, giving her a game-high seven makes. Fankam Mendjiiadeu pulled down her 10^th rebound in the final minute of the game to give her a double-double.

Up Next
The Tigers now turn their attention to the No. 3 seed Cincinnati, the team Memphis will face on Saturday. The Bearcats enjoyed a first-round bye, so Memphis will be the first opponent of the weekend for Cincy. Last time the Tigers and Bearcats faced off, the Bearcats took a seven point win over the Tigers. The team is led by IImar'I Thomas and Antoinette Miller, who combine for 34.5 points per contest.

Cincinnati finished the regular season with a 20-9 overall record and an 11-5 conference record. The Bearcats have won seven of their last 10 games, including two straight entering the AAC Championship.

Tiger Tidbits

Madison Griggs dropped an AAC Championship freshman record seven three-pointers and 24 points.
The game marked Griggs' fourth game this season with seven or more threes.
Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu recorded her 14^th double-double, recording 17 points and 10 rebounds. She moves into 11^th all-time on the career double-double list at Memphis.
Gazmyne Herndon scored 13 points and added eight assists.
Aerial Wilson connected on a career-best two three-pointers.
Memphis shot 18-of-20 from the free throw line, marking the highest free-throw percentage of the season.