University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
5-15,3-6AAC
East Carolina
11-11,3-7AAC
Tigers Use Strong Second Half to Beat East Carolina, 75-69
Feb 01, 2025 | Women's Basketball
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Memphis women's basketball used a 21-11 third-quarter advantage to cruise to a 75-69 victory over East Carolina on Saturday afternoon inside Elma Roane Fieldhouse.
The Tigers (5-15, 3-6 AAC) snapped a three-game home losing streak with the victory, their first at the Fieldhouse since Jan. 1. Tanyuel Welch led the efforts with a career-high-tying 21 points to go with nine rebounds, and Alasia Smith posted her seventh double-double in nine conference games with 15 points and 10 rebounds playing all 40 minutes. Tilly Boler added 19 points, and DeeDee Hagemann had 11 points and five assists.
It took 2:30 for Memphis to break the seal, falling behind 6-0 early before Smith hit a pair of free throws and logged a put-back layup. The Pirates (11-10, 3-7 AAC) took a 21-16 lead before the Tigers closed the opening quarter on a 5-0 run capped by Welch's first of three three-pointers.
Both defenses began to anchor down in the second quarter, as neither team cracked a 40% field goal percentage in the frame. With the game tied at 29, Smith had a chase-down block followed by a three-pointer on the other end to give Memphis its first lead of the game halfway through the period. East Carolina hit a jumper as the clock neared zero to take a 33-32 lead into the break.
The third stanza was where Memphis began to pull away behind an inspired defensive effort. The Pirates went nearly four minutes without a point as threes from Boler and Hagemann ignited a 10-0 run. When the quarter ended, the Tigers had forced seven turnovers and held the visitors to 25% shooting to lead by nine.
East Carolina showed signs of a potential comeback, posting a quick 4-0 run early in the final quarter, but Hagemann free throws and three Welch buckets drove the lead up as high as 15 as Memphis was able to see the game out.
The Pirates had 44 bench points but were held to 3-for-13 shooting beyond the arc. Memphis shot 8-for-8 from deep behind Welch's perfect 3-for-3 day.
The Tigers are headed to the City of Brotherly Love to take on Temple on Wednesday, Feb. 5, at 10:00 a.m. CT.
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.
