Tigers Fall to South Florida in Quarterfinal Round of AAC Championship

Tuesday, March 8

Fort Worth, Texas

6 p.m.

University of Memphis

16-12,6-9AAC

South Florida

23-7,12-3AAC

Memphis

South Fla.

Photo by: Corey Wernecke

Tigers Fall to South Florida in Quarterfinal Round of AAC Championship

Mar 08, 2022 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

FORT WORTH, Texas- While the Memphis women's basketball team held steady with South Florida, the Tigers were unable to get past the Bulls and fell 63-53 in the Air Force Reserve American Athletic Conference Championship Quarterfinals.

Following today's game, Memphis moves to 16-12 overall.

It was back-and-forth to open the game, neither team getting more than a four-point lead ahead of the other.

After Memphis faced an early 8-4 deficit, the Tigers would go on an 8-0 run that saw baskets from Madison Griggs, Jamirah Shutes and consecutive made free throws from Emani Jefferson. The Tigers would take the 12-10 lead heading in to the second quarter.

The Tigers would earn their largest lead of the night at 17-10 in the second quarter after a basket from Lanetta Williams and a completed -and one from Jamirah Shutes. But, South Florida would not go away easily, making a comeback of their own to tie the game at 17-17 with 7:28 left in the half.

Memphis and South Florida would trade baskets with one another to close out the half and took the 27-27 game into the break.

South Florida opened the second half with fire, taking a 37-31 lead just two and a half minutes in. But, Memphis would get a seven-point swing, all scored by Madison Griggs, to regain the lead at 38-37 with 6:26 left in the quarter. Another jumper from Williams and a wide-open three-pointer in the corner from Jatyjia Jones put Memphis up six with just under three minutes to play in the third.

Once again, South Florida would make a comeback, getting within two of the Tigers before tying the game at 45-45 just before the end of the third quarter.

A scoring drought of more than six minutes from the third and fourth quarters for Memphis would threaten their game plan; despite not scoring, the Tigers found themselves down just two after Jamirah Shutes broke Memphis' scoring woes with a jumper from the wing with 4:28 left in the game.

Nine made free throws from South Florida down the stretch would set the Tigers back and eventually lead to the 63-53 loss.

Jamirah Shutes led the team with 16 points while Madison Griggs added in 14. Lanetta Williams brought down a team-best seven rebounds and recorded three blocks.

Memphis now waits to hear for WNIT contention. The selection show for the Postseason WNIT is scheduled for Sunday, March 13.

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.