Tigers Host NC Central, Middle Tennessee

Thursday, December 8

Memphis, Tenn.

7 p.m.

University of Memphis

North Carolina Central

Tickets

Photo by: Jon Lambert

Dec 07, 2022 | Women's Basketball

Game Notes vs. NCCU Game Notes vs. MTSU

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Memphis Tiger women's basketball team will return to the Elma Roane Fieldhouse for the first time in 21 days when they play host to North Carolina Central on Thursday night and Middle Tennessee State on Saturday afternoon.

Memphis (4-4) is coming off a trip to Columbia, S.C. where they took on the #1 team in the country, South Carolina. The Tigers would get a fast start, gaining a 5-0 lead to open the game, while holding on to the lead for the first five and a half minutes of the game. But, the Gamecock offense would be hard to stop in Kamilla Cardoso and Aliyah Boston as they suffered the 79-54 loss.

Jamirah Shutes and Destyne Jackson led the team with 10 points each while Emani Jefferson grabbed a team-high seven rebounds during the contest.

For the season, Shutes and Madison Griggs lead the team with 14.9 and 12.5 points per game, respectively, while the team as a whole is outscoring their opponents by an average of 10 points per game.

NC Central (3-6) is coming off of their first road win of the season after they took down Chicago State this past Saturday. Kimeira Burks posted a 21-point performance while Morgan Callahan added in 19 points. The Eagles would force the Cougars into 22 turnovers.

For the season, Burks and Jerni Kiaku are leading the team with 10.3 points per game, each, while Aniya Finger is grabbing a team-best six rebounds per contest. As a team, the Eagles are forcing more than 25 turnovers per game, ranking them 8^th in Division I and 1^st in the MEAC.

Thursday's game will be just the second meeting between the two games. Memphis and NC Central met back in the 2018-19 season where the Tigers came away with the 77-56 win. Shutes led the team with 18 points while the Memphis bench chipped in for 33 points.

Middle Tennessee (5-2) is currently on a three-game winning streak that was extended on Sunday afternoon after the Lady Raiders took down then 18^th ranked Louisville. MSTU would hold the Cardinals to just 18 points between the second and third quarters to cruise to the 67-49 win.

Savannah Wheeler had a big day for the Lady Raiders, pouring in 23 points while going 6-12 from the field and 9-11 from the free throw line. Courtney Whitson and Kseniya Malashka added in 16 and 15 points, respectively, while Whitson led all players with 10 rebounds.

For the season, Wheeler, Malashka and Whitson are leading the team with a combined 44 points between the trio while Jalynn Gregory is chipping in 10 points. MTSU currently owns a scoring margin of +20.7 and is ranked 2^nd in Division I in free throws made per game.

The Tigers and Lady Raiders are no stranger to one another – playing against one another for better part of a decade.

MTSU currently holds the all-time matchup record 8-5 with the last Memphis win over the Lady Raiders coming back in the 1998-99 season.

Thursday's game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. tip-off while Saturday's matchup will begin at 2 p.m. Coverage for both games can be found on ESPN+ and on 98.9 THE ROAR OF MEMPHIS with Tyler Springs on the call.

Season and single-game tickets are available now at GoTigersGo.com or by calling the ticket office at (901) 678-2331.

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.