Tigers Lose to UTSA, 70-68, in Back-and-Forth Battle

Wednesday, January 15

Memphis, Tenn.

7:00 PM

University of Memphis

3-13,1-4AAC

UTSA

15-2,6-0AAC

UTSA

Memphis

Tigers Lose to UTSA, 70-68, in Back-and-Forth Battle

Jan 15, 2025 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Memphis women's basketball lost to UTSA in the final seconds of a thrilling back-and-forth affair on Wednesday night, dropping the contest, 70-68, inside Elma Roane Fieldhouse.

In a game with 10 lead changes and eight ties, the Tigers (3-13, 1-4 AAC) took a one-point lead with 12.9 seconds remaining but were called for a technical foul after a UTSA player was shoved out of a Memphis huddle. UTSA (15-2, 6-0 AAC) hit their technical free throws and were able to see the game out at the buzzer.
Alasia Smith posted her fourth double-double in five conference games, scoring 14 points to go with 13 rebounds, and Tilly Boler scored a game-high 19 points behind three three-pointers.

It was clear there would be no easy buckets from the opening tip, when the Tiger press earned them a steal after just six seconds. Memphis wouldn't score for the opening 2:45 of the game before Latazia Williamson converted a layup. The quarter saw five early ties, but the Roadrunners went on a 7-0 run after the Tigers tied it at 13. Memphis responded quickly with six quick points capped with an Elauna Eaton buzzer beater to trail by one.

The Tiger momentum spilled into the next period as they capped an 11-0 total run with five more points early in the second. UTSA did not score for almost eight minutes of game time across two quarters, finally breaking through with an Aysia Proctor three to cut their deficit to 25-23. When the halftime buzzer sounded, Memphis had only allowed six points in the quarter, the second-fewest allowed this season (four in 1Q vs Southeastern) and the fewest in a conference game since the 2023 AAC Tournament.
The Tigers led by six at the break and pushed it to nine with a Boler and-one, but UTSA responded with five quick points and used defense to claw back into the contest. They held the Tigers to 10 points, five of which belonged to Boler, and took a one-point lead into the final quarter.
Memphis hit their first four long balls of the final stanza, including a DeeDee Hagemann four-point play after she rebounded her own miss. Boler hit her third three of the game to take a 62-51 lead with 3:14 remaining, but the Roadrunners quickly fought back with seven points in 39 seconds and an 11-0 run over 1:19 to trail by just one.

Hagemann hit two free throws before Damara Allen tied the game with a second-chance long ball, and Idara Udo would break the tie with 27 seconds remaining thanks to making one of two free throws. After a timeout, Smith won deep position in the paint and got a tough right-handed finish to fall to lead, 66-65, with 12.9 seconds remaining. During the timeout, officials reviewed a fracas inside a Memphis player huddle, where Udo jogged through and was pushed away by Tanyuel Welch. The 6-foot-1 Udo hit the deck, and the referees awarded UTSA – who had already been assessed a flop warning – with two free throws and the ball for a technical foul on Welch.

The Roadrunners converted both free throws, and after a quick Memphis two, they missed one free throw to hold a two-point lead with 2.2 seconds to play. Boler received the ball in the corner out of the timeout, but her game-winning attempt clanked off the rim as the Tigers fell, 70-68.

UTSA shot 24 free throws to the Tigers 14 and outrebounded the hosts, 46-32. Jordyn Jenkins led the way with a 17-point, 10-rebound double-double. With both defenses clamping down, 38 turnovers were forced with UTSA's offense responsible for 20.

The Tigers will head to New Orleans for a Saturday afternoon showdown with Tulane at 2:00 p.m.

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.