Tiger’s Sharp Second Half Sends Pirates Packing

Wednesday, March 2

Memphis, Tenn.

7 p.m.

University of Memphis

15-11,6-9AAC

East Carolina

11-17,4-11AAC

East Carolina

Memphis

Photo by: Matthew Smith

Mar 02, 2022 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn.– In their regular season finale, the Memphis women's basketball team made it a thriller. After finding themselves down by as much as 11, the Tigers would fight back come away with the 56-53 win.

Following tonight's win, Memphis finishes the regular season 15-11 overall and 6-9 in AAC This also marks the first time that the program has finished the regular season with a winning record and at least 15 wins since the 2015-16 season.

The Tiger offense got off to a slow start, scoring just seven points and turning the ball over eight times in the opening 10 minutes. While Memphis held the Pirates to just 10 points, the Tigers would cut their deficit to three just before the start of the second quarter after Lanetta Williams sank a hook shot deep in the lane.

After another rough quarter where ECU's defense held the Tigers to just 3-11 from the field, Memphis would face an uphill battle heading into the second half down 26-19.

Memphis lit up the Fieldhouse in the third quarter; they would string together baskets from Alana Davis, Maya Stovall, Madison Griggs and Tyler Frierson for a 12-2 run to get within one of ECU. The Tigers, who held the lead for just under three minutes in the first half, regained their lead with 1:53 left in the quarter after back-to-back layups from Stovall and Griggs.

The Tigers would be able to stay ahead of the Pirates and take the 42-41 lead into the final 10 minutes of play.

Sharp shooting from Memphis continued in the fourth quarter, giving them their largest lead of the night at 46-41 after Williams made a short jump shot and Emani Jefferson sank consecutive free throws. Memphis and ECU would trade baskets throughout the quarter, bringing it all down to the final seconds of the game.

ECU's Taniyah Thompson sank a three-pointer from the corner to give the Pirates the 53-52 lead with 1:36 remaining. The Memphis defense would hold strong, forcing three turnovers in the final 90 seconds while also getting four straight free throws from Jamirah Shutes in the final 14 seconds of the game to walk away with the 56-53 win.

Alana Davis led the Tigers in scoring tonight with 15 points and nine rebounds while Jamirah Shutes and Maya Stovall both added in nine points each. Along with Davis, Emani Jefferson and Tyler Frierson were forces on the boards tonight with eight and seven rebounds, respectively.

As a team, Memphis shot 34.7% from the field while going 19-23 from the free throw line.

The Tigers have not seen the last of the Pirates this season; Memphis, who is the 7-seed will face ECU, the 10-seed, in the opening round of the 2022 Air Force Reserve American Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Championship. Tip-off is scheduled for Monday, March 7 at 3 p.m. CT.

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.