University of Memphis
7-21,5-12AAC
Tulsa
16-13,10-7AAC
Tigers Come Up Short at the Buzzer
Mar 01, 2025 | Women's Basketball
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Memphis women's basketball couldn't get a game-winning three-pointer to fall on Saturday afternoon at Elma Roane Fieldhouse, dropping a heartbreaker to Tulsa, 81-79.
After trailing by eight at halftime, the Tigers (7-21, 5-12 AAC) used a 10-0 run in the fourth quarter to make it a one-point game, but that's as close as they would get as Tulsa (16-13, 10-7 AAC) won a fourth consecutive game. Tilly Boler posted 25 points with four threes, and Tamya Smith had her second consecutive career-high scoring performance with 19.
It was an emotional day from start to finish, with the program honoring the senior class before the game and Tamika Whitmore's No. 44 jersey becoming the sixth to be retired in program history during halftime.
The first half saw each team go on multiple scoring spurts, beginning with the Tigers who jumped out to an 8-4 lead behind Boler's first two threes. Tulsa's high press turned Memphis over multiple times in the early going, and the Golden Hurricane would go on a 9-0 run behind the stifling defense.
The Tigers closed the first frame on an 8-0 run and opened the second with four more to lead by five, but Tulsa would score on six consecutive possessions midway through the quarter as they built a solid lead. When the half ended, the visitors had 12 points off of 12 turnovers and led by eight.
Elauna Eaton, who could not get a few good looks to fall in the first half, hit multiple threes as Memphis began to cut the lead, but it was Tanyuel Welch who stole the third-quarter show with 14 points on 6-for-6 shooting. The Tigers were 5-for-8 from deep in the quarter, but Tulsa continued to cause havoc on defense and used an 8-0 run to lead by nine before Welch scored the final five points of the quarter to keep it close.
The Golden Hurricane hit three of their first four long balls to extend the lead to 12, but Memphis fired off a 10-0 run over three minutes to cut it to two. Tulsa finally broke their drought and got the lead back to four, but Layken Cox split a pair of free throws before Boler added two more at the line to make it a one-point game with two minutes remaining. The Tigers got two consecutive stops but could not capitalize with a go-ahead bucket, forcing them to foul and set up a chance at a last-second bucket, which Boler could not get to go despite a decent look.
Memphis finished with 50 rebounds – their most in a conference game – to Tulsa's 33, but 20 turnovers to 10 proved to be a deciding stat. Delanie Crawford shot an uncharacteristic 1-for-8 from three but was 7-for-11 inside the arc to pick up 22 points and five assists.
The Tigers will conclude the regular season with a trip to Boca Raton, Florida, as they look to sweep the season series against Florida Atlantic on Tuesday, March 4, at 6:00 p.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.
