Tigers fall on Tuesday at Temple

Tuesday, March 2

Philadelphia, PA

2:30 PM

University of Memphis

4-13,2-10AAC

Temple

10-10,10-7AAC

Memphis

Temple

Mar 02, 2021 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

PHILADELPHIA – Despite a strong second half from junior guard Jamirah Shutes, the University of Memphis women's basketball team fell to Temple on Tuesday, 89-66, at McGonigle Hall. Shutes led the Tigers with 18 points, scoring a dozen after halftime in the losing effort.

The Tigers (4-13, 2-10 AAC) will get a day to regroup before facing the Owls (10-10, 10-7 AAC) again on Thursday. Memphis is still in search of their first win under interim head coach Michele Savage.

How It Happened
Temple freshman Jasha Clinton dominated the first quarter, scoring nine of her eventual 21 points to push the Owls out to a 23-16 advantage. The Owls opened the second quarter with an 11-5 run, as sophomore Alexa Williamson began to gain steam. Williamson accounted for 12 of Temple's 21 points in the period, finishing the half leading all scorers with 18 points in 17 minutes on 7-of-10 shooting and 4-of-7 free throws made. Memphis struggled with 10 first-half turnovers and had trouble getting in rhythm offensively. Shutes and Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu each had a half-dozen points as the Tigers entered the break trailing, 44-27.

After a Jatyjia Jones jumper opened the second-half scoring, Temple hit back-to-back three-pointers and then got a pair of free throws from Williamson, creating an 8-0 run to extend their lead to 23. A Lanetta Williams jumper and a layup from Jones cut the deficit back down to 19, but another 6-0 run by the Owls over the next minute-and-a-half re-built the margin to 25 points. Memphis could get no closer than 20 the rest of the way, though they shot 50% in the second half and hit four of their 11 attempts from long distance after the break.

Notes From Tuesday's Game
*Jamirah Shutes led the Tigers in scoring with 18 points, marking her first time leading the Tigers in scoring since her career-high 32-point effort against East Carolina on January 28, 2020. Jatyjia Jones also finished in double figures with 10 points. Temple's Alexa Williamson had a career-high 29, one of three Owls to reach double figures along with Jasha Clinton (21) and Emani Mayo (14).

*Memphis' reserves outscored Temple 43-8, getting 18 points from Jamirah Shutes, nine from En'Dya Buford, eight from Madison Griggs, six from Lanetta Williams, and two from Keke Hunter.

*En'Dya Buford netted a career-high nine points on Tuesday, making four of her five shots from the field.

*Alana Davis scored four points, drawing her close to the 1,000-point mark for her career (998). Davis would be the 26^th Tiger to reach the 1,000-point plateau.

*Coriah Beck earned the first start of her college career and tied with Aerial Wilson for the team high in assists (4). It was the first time the Tigers made a starting lineup change since the season began.

*Lanyce Williams saw her first action of the season on Tuesday. She and twin sister Lanetta faced twins Emani and Nicolette Mayo of Temple, putting 16.7% of all twins in Division I women's basketball this year (four of 24) on the floor in the same game.

Up Next
Memphis and Temple will square off again at 11 a.m. CT on Thursday at McGonigle Hall, playing for the second time in three days. Fans can watch the game on ESPN+ or listen to it on the Memphis Tiger Network. Thursday's game makes up for the Feb. 20 postponement between the two schools that was caused by heavy snowfall in Memphis. Thursday's contest will be the final regular season game for both schools before the 2021 American Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Championship, which will run March 8-11 at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.

Go Tigers Go!
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