Tigers Open the New Year with AAC Home Stretch of ECU, SMU

Tuesday, January 3

Memphis, Tenn.

7 p.m.

University of Memphis

East Carolina

Tickets

Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

Tigers Open the New Year with AAC Home Stretch of ECU, SMU

Jan 02, 2023 | Women's Basketball

Game Notes vs. ECU Game Notes vs. SMU

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Looking to notch two wins this week, the Memphis Tiger women's basketball team will open the new year in the Fieldhouse when they host East Carolina on Tuesday and SMU on Friday night.

Memphis (8-6, 0-1 AAC) is coming off their first AAC game of the season where they fell to Temple in Philadelphia. Madison Griggs led the team with 20 points while shooting 50% from the field. Destiny Thomas came off the bench for a notable performance with 10 points and eight rebounds while Tanuyel Welch pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds.

For the season, Jamirah Shutes leads the team with 15 points per game while Griggs is pouring in just over 13 per contest.

East Carolina (9-5, 0-1 AAC) comes into Tuesday's game looking to get a win in the conference column after falling 55- 47 to Tulsa last week. The Pirates were held to just nine points in the opening quarter. Despite the slow start, ECU would make a late run to threaten Tulsa's lead, but the Golden Hurricane would hold out. Amiya Joyner led the Pirates with a double-double of 16 points and 16 rebounds.

Danae McNeal leads the team with 13.5 points per game while freshman Amiya Joyner is pulling down just under seven rebounds per contest.

Memphis and ECU got to match-up with one another three times last season - two times coming within five days. The Tigers would take the final two games last season, the first coming as the team's regular season closer where Memphis came away with the 56-53 win, and the second coming in the first round of the AAC Championship where the Tigers claimed the 59-48 win.

SMU (9-4, 0-1 AAC) is coming off a 60-44 loss at Houston to open AAC play. The Mustangs, who were held to single digit scoring in the first and third quarters, were led behind the double-double of Chantae Embry who poured in 14 points and grabbed 15 rebounds. The 23 turnovers that Houston forced SMU into would be their downfall.

For the season, Embry and Jasmine Smith are leading the team with a combined 26.4 points per game while Savannah Wilkinson is pulling down a team best 8.2 rebounds.

Last season when the two teams met, SMU would take the AAC opener with a 63-44 win in the Fieldhouse. But, Memphis would get their revenge in Dallas behind double-digit scoring from Alana Davis, Jamirah Shutes, who scored her 1,000^th point during the game, and Emani Jefferson to claim the 72-54 win.

SMU will take on UCF before making the trip to the Bluff City.

Tuesday and Friday's game are both scheduled for a 7 p.m. tip-off in the Fieldhouse. Coverage for game can be found on ESPN+ and on 98.9 FM The Roar of Memphis with Tyler Springs on the call.

Season and single-game tickets are available now at GoTigersGo.com of by calling the ticket office at (901) 687-2331.

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.