Tigers Comeback Not Enough to Down Bearcats

Wednesday, February 23

Cincinnati Ohio

6 p.m.

University of Memphis

14-11,5-9AAC

Cincinnati

11-15,4-10AAC

Memphis

Cincinnati

Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

Feb 23, 2022 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

CINCINNATI, Ohio– Despite coming back from a nine-point deficit in the first half, the Memphis Tigers were unable to sneak by the Bearcats of Cincinnati and suffered the 71-58 loss.

Following tonight's game, Memphis moves to 14-11 overall and 5-9 in AAC play.

The Tigers got off to a slow start, falling behind by as much as nine in the first quarter.

Buckets from Alana Davis, Tyler Frierson and two made free throws from Emani Jefferson would but Memphis' deficit to 14-8 with 4:23 left in the quarter, but the Cincinnati offense was a hard force to stop and added in a jump shot from Jillian Hayes right at the buzzer to put the Tigers down 18-10.

Memphis caught fire in the second quarter, going 50% from the field and 3-5 from three-point range.

Free throws from Maya Stovall and a three-pointer from Davis just before halftime out the Tigers down just four heading into the break.

The Tigers would get as close as one point on multiple occasions in the third quarter after two made free throws from Jamirah Shutesand a short jumper from Shutes on the very next possession. But, the Bearcat offense could not be stopped, getting consecutive buckers from Braylyn Milton, Arame Niang and Caitlyn Wilson to push their lead back out to seven points.

Davis would add in two more free throws for the Tigers with 38 seconds left in the third quarter, but Jadyn Scott of Cincinnati laid in a bucket to put Memphis down 51-44 heading in to the final 10 minutes of play.

The Cincinnati offense did not let up in the final stanza, going 7-14 from the field and adding in four three throws down the stretch.

While Memphis would get buckets from Coriah Beck and Aliyah Green, as well as made free throws Beck, Green and Jefferson, Memphis would not be able to string together a run and suffer the 71-58 loss.

Alana Davis, who led the team in scoring for the fourth time this month, and Emani Jefferson led the Tigers in scoring tonight with 12 points each. Davis added in a team-high nine rebounds while Jefferson recorded 10 of her 12 points from the free throw line. Tyler Frierson added in eight points and four rebounds while six other Tigers scored tonight.

As a team, Memphis shot 28.6% from the field and went 19-24 from the free throw line.

The Tigers will be back in action next Wednesday, March 2, when they host the Pirates of East Carolina in their final regular season game. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside Elma Roane Fieldhouse. Coverage of the game can be found on ESPN+ and on News Talk 98.9 The Roar of Memphis with Tyler Springs on the call.

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.