Tigers fall short Saturday against Tulsa

Saturday, January 9

Tulsa, OK

2 PM

University of Memphis

2-7,0-4AAC

Tulsa

3-3,2-3AAC

Memphis

Tulsa

Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

Jan 09, 2021 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

TULSA, Okla. – Memphis guard Jatyjia 'Tye' Jones recorded a season-high 19 points in the Tigers' 72-68 loss to Tulsa on Saturday at the Reynolds Center. The Tigers are now 2-7 overall and 0-4 in the American Athletic Conference.

"I felt much better about our performance today," said Memphis head coach Melissa McFerrin. "I felt like today we competed, and we were invested until the horn went off."

Memphis led 18-17 at the conclusion of the first quarter, but the Golden Hurricane soon gained momentum and the Tigers struggled to keep up. Tulsa opened the second half with an 8-0 run and ended the third quarter leading by 13 points.

Despite being behind, Memphis found a way to fight back. In the final three minutes of regulation, Memphis went on a 14-5 run to come back from a 10-point deficit and made it a two-point game with only 13 seconds left on the clock. Two made free throws by the Golden Hurricane in the final seconds of play solidified Tulsa's victory.

Jones was one of four Tigers to score in double digits against the Golden Hurricane. She was accompanied by Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu (17), Madison Griggs (14) and Alana Davis (10).

"Tye plays so hard all the time. I'm excited for her because she gives it an honest effort every day in practice and in every game," said McFerrin. "She's a smart kid, she doesn't have an ego, she wants to be efficient and I think that today she found a really good way to do that."

Although Memphis allowed 24 points off of turnovers, the Tigers shot well against Tulsa. Memphis went 83.3 percent from the free throw line making 15 of its 18 shots taken. Additionally, Griggs led the Tigers in three-pointers made totaling four shots beyond the arc.

"How we played the last five minutes today is how we need to play the entire game moving forward," said senior Alana Davis. "That's the mentality we need so that we can get the results that we want."

Memphis is back on the road on Sunday, Jan. 17 to take on South Florida at the Yuengling Center. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. CT and the game can be seen on ESPNU.