Tigers Hand Flames First Loss of Season in Defensive Battle

Tuesday, November 23

Lynchburg, Va.

6 p.m.

University of Memphis

4-1,0-0AAC

Liberty

3-1,0-0ASUN

Memphis

Liberty

Photo by: Andrew Synder

Tigers Hand Flames First Loss of Season in Defensive Battle

Nov 23, 2021 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Memphis Tigers battled to the end as they took down the Flames of Liberty University (3-1) to kick-off their week-long trip. Memphis claimed the 53-51 win after holding LU in the final seconds of the game.

Following tonight's win, Memphis moves to 4-1 overall.

Liberty opened the game on a 7-0 run behind back-to-back lay-ups from Flames leading scorer Mya Berkman.

Jamirah Shutes would get the first Tiger bucket of the game just over four minutes into playy off a driving lay-up. Maya Stovall would follow Shutes up on the next possession with a left-handed lay-up to cut Memphis' deficit to 7-4.

The Flames defense held the Tigers to just eight points in the first quarter while taking a 15-8 lead after the opening 10 minutes.

Memphis would open the second quarter with an 11-2 run to take their first lead of the night. Makayia Brooks hit back-to-back shots to create a trickle affect for the Tigers scoring. Following Brooks five straight points, Shutes would drain a three-pointer from the corner to extend Memphis' lead out to 19-15.

The Tiger offense would continue to roll through the second quarter, taking their largest lead of the game off a 10-foot jumper from Stovall at the buzzer to give Memphis the 28-21 lead.

Memphis would hold Liberty to just six points in the second frame.

It was a back-and-forth battle in the third quarter; after a 10-2 run from Liberty gave them a 31-30 lead with 6:36 left in the quarter, the Flames and Tigers would trade buckets before Memphis took a two-point lead following Brooks second three-pointer of the game.

It would come down to the wire to decide a winner; after Stovall sank a long jumper and Emani Jefferson, who's only points of the night ended up being the game-winning bucket, scored a driving lay-up through the paint, Memphis would take a 53-50 lead. Liberty's Berkman would go 1-2 from the free throw line to cut the Tigers lead to just two with less than a minute to play.

Liberty would get the ball back with 13 seconds on the clock, but the Tiger defense would hold steady as Alana Davis blocked Priscilla Smeenge's shot and Shutes grabbed the game-securing rebound. Memphis' 53-51 win marked the Flames first loss of the season and broke their 19-game home winning streak dating back to Feb. 1, 2020.

Jamirah Shutes led the way with 16 points while going 3-6 from long range. Maya Stovall played a huge role tonight with nine points, including the bucket that gave Memphis their lead in the fourth quarter. Makayia Brooks came off the bench for eight points while six other Memphis players scored.

As a team, the Tigers shot just over 37% from the field.

Memphis will be back in action on Friday and Saturday this week when they take part in the Loyola Marymount Thanksgiving Classic. The Tigers will face host school LMU and Penn, respectively.

How to follow the Tigers: How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tigers Basketball, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.