Brown’s Career Day Leads Tigers to Victory Over Pirates

Saturday, February 17

Greenville, NC

1 p.m.

University of Memphis

9-15,5-8AAC

East Carolina

14-10,7-6AAC

Memphis

East Carolina

Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

Brown’s Career Day Leads Tigers to Victory Over Pirates

Feb 17, 2024 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

GREENVILLE, N.C. – The University of Memphis women's basketball team had the greatest of all comebacks this season behind a 29-point fourth quarter to take the 72-70 win Saturday afternoon over East Carolina University.

With the win, Memphis moves to 9-15 overall and 5-8 in American Athletic Conference play.

A rough offensive outing ensued for the Tigers in the opening quarter. Memphis was held to just 18 percent shooting for the frame and faced a 15-8 deficit heading into the second quarter.

On the defensive end, Memphis did everything it could to hold the Pirates at bay; the Tigers forced East Carolina into seven turnovers in the opening 10 minutes.

Shelbee Brown was the highlight for Memphis in the first half, scoring 11 of her 19 points in the first 20 minutes of play. She netted the first five points of the game for the Tigers while leading the charge in the second half with eight points, a steal and a block.

Brown, along with a three-pointer from Madison Griggs, made up a 7-0 run late in the first half to cut the Memphis deficit to 28-25.

After a free throw from East Carolina made it a four-point advantage, Layken Cox completed an and-one with 55 seconds remaining on the clock to get within one of the Pirates. Back-to-back scores from East Carolina in the final seconds of the frame pushed its lead out to 33-28 heading into the halftime break.

While the Tigers continued to try and cut into the Pirates lead, the East Carolina offense could not be stopped. Memphis faced a 55-43 disadvantage heading into the final 10 minutes of play.

It was all Tigers in the fourth quarter with a 12-0 run to start the frame, Memphis tied the game at 55-55 with seven minutes left on the clock.

East Carolina came back, once again, to build a lead as much as five, but Memphis prevailed with buckets from Smith, Hannah Riddick, Destyne Jackson and a game-tying three-pointer from Griggs with 55 seconds left in the game.

Smith converted the game-winning lay-up off an inbounds play with nine seconds on the clock and blocked both Pirate attempts on the other end to give Memphis the 72-70 victory.

Shelbee Brown had a career day with 19 points and 10 rebounds while Madison Griggs and Alasia Smith each added in 12 points.

Griggs and Smith both reached career milestones Saturday. Griggs surpassed 1,500 points off a three-pointer in the fourth quarter, while Smith reached 1,000 career rebounds when she grabbed an offensive rebound midway through the fourth quarter.

Memphis is back in the Bluff City Tuesday, Feb. 20 when it hosts Rice University. Tip-off in the Elma Roane Fieldhouse is scheduled for 7 p.m. with coverage available on ESPN+.

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.