University of Memphis Athletics
Tigers to Host Pair of North Carolina Teams
Jan 28, 2025 | Women's Basketball
NOTE: The East Carolina game in Memphis will tip at 2:56 p.m. CT on Saturday, Feb. 1, 56 minutes later than scheduled.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – After 14 days away from home, Memphis women's basketball is back at Elma Roane Fieldhouse for two consecutive home games, beginning when they take on Charlotte at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 29, before hosting East Carolina on Saturday, Feb. 1, at 2:00 p.m.
The Tigers (4-14, 2-5 AAC) went toe-to-toe with Tulsa on the road last Saturday before falling in the final minutes, 64-57. Memphis – who ranks second in the conference with 70.1 points per game – is still the only school to have a top five contributor in points (Tilly Boler – fourth, 17.3 ppg), rebounds (Alasia Smith – first, 12.0 rpg) and assists (DeeDee Hagemann, 6.3 apg) through a month of conference play.
Game One: Charlotte
Charlotte (6-13, 1-7 AAC) travels to the Bluff City after a busy week that saw them pick up a road win at Florida Atlantic before heading back home and dropping a contest with Rice. Memphis will wear purple jerseys in support of the We Back Pat initiative to increase awareness and raise funds towards the fight against Alzheimer's disease. Pat Summitt coached Memphis head coach Alex Simmons at the University of Tennessee.
The Tigers fell last season in Charlotte, 69-59, as the 49ers took 28 trips to the charity stripe. The loss marked the second consecutive victory for Charlotte, but Memphis still holds a 10-5 advantage in the all-time series thanks to wins in the first seven matchups from 1996 to 2000. The Tigers are undefeated at Elma Roane Fieldhouse in six games against Charlotte.
Tomekia Reed is in her first season with the 49ers after being hired from Jackson State. Reed coached current Tigers Tilly Boler and Liz Martino, winning back-to-back SWAC championships in 2021 and 2022 to qualify for the NCAA Tournament. Boler's former teammate Hayleigh Breland leads the team with 11.1 points per contest in the transfer's first season in Charlotte.
Game Two: East Carolina
East Carolina (10-10, 2-6 AAC) will head to Memphis after hosting Wichita State in the mid-week. They most recently lost in heartbreaking fashion to South Florida, who hit a buzzer-beater to win by three in Greenville.
The Tigers and Pirates played three games in 2023-24 that were decided by a total of five points. East Carolina closed the game on an 11-2 run to win, 64-63, in Memphis, and Alasia Smith converted a lay-up with nine seconds remaining to win the return match-up, 72-70. In the second round of the conference tournament, East Carolina squeaked by Memphis, 65-63. Dating back to 2002, the Tigers are 21-23 against ECU with a home record of 13-8.
Kim McNeill is in her sixth season in charge of the Pirates. They have reached the AAC Tournament final in back-to-back seasons, having won it in 2022-23 which earned McNeill the honor of Coach of the Year in the conference.
Junior forward Amiya Joyner, who put up 15 points and 20 rebounds at home against Memphis last season, leads the squad in points (13.3) and rebounds (8.4). Freshman Devin Hagemann – sister of starting Tiger guard DeeDee – has twice been named conference Freshman of the Week thanks to a 16-point performance against Charlotte and a career-high 21 points against Tulane.
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