University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
UAB
Tigers Host UAB, Wichita State to Conclude Regular Season
Mar 03, 2026 | Women's Basketball
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Memphis women's basketball is back home for the final two games of the 2025-26 season, hosting UAB on Wednesday, March 4, at 7 p.m. and Wichita State on Saturday, March 7, at 2 p.m.
Both games will be broadcast on ESPN+, and both games will feature the three teams that are eliminated from next week's 10-team American Conference tournament. The Tigers (9-20, 3-12 American) battled valiantly on the road before faltering late to lose at UTSA, 67-55, on Sunday afternoon.
Daejah Richmond was named to the conference's weekly honorable mentions on Monday afternoon thanks to her two-way performance in the double overtime victory over East Carolina last Wednesday. The junior posted 17 points, seven steals, six assists and five rebounds in 47 minutes.
Game One: UAB
It's a rematch of a February 10 battle in Birmingham that UAB won, 58-56. The visitors stormed back after falling behind, using a 20-4 run to lead by three, but Cali Smallwood's six threes were enough to win as Memphis' game-winning three-pointer fell short at the horn. The Tigers still own a 35-24 all-time advantage, fueled by a 20-7 record at Elma Roane Fieldhouse.
UAB (10-18, 3-13 American) are yet to win since, failing to hit 60 points in all four losses. Smallwood leads the team with 14.0 points per game, ranking seventh in the conference. Her three three-pointers per game pace a Blazer team that is top 60 nationally in both three-point accuracy and volume. Memphis ranks 11th in the country in opponent three-point rate and 68th in three-point percentage defense, but they were lit up for 11 threes in Birmingham, the most they've allowed in conference play.
Randy Norton is in his 13th season with the Blazers, nearing 250 wins as head coach in Birmingham. Freshman forward Ashlyn Howard and Memphis sophomore Jordan Hunter played together at Hewitt-Trussville High School in in Trussville, Alabama, where they reached the 7A state championship game in 2024.
Game Two: Wichita State
The Shockers (7-22, 4-12 American) also defeated the Tigers earlier this season at home, but unlike UAB, they have been able to string together some momentum since their 66-59 victory on January 20. After starting 0-6 in conference play, Wichita State is 4-6 in their last 10 games. They will host North Texas on Tuesday before concluding their season at Elma Roane Fieldhouse.
Abby Cater leads the team with 12.6 points per game, headlined by a program-record 42 points against Memphis in the first game. Jaila Harding adds 11.5 per contest, and four players average four or more rebounds.
Terry Nooner is in his third season leading the Shockers, having been announced in the same week as Memphis coach Alex Simmons. He boasts assistant coaching experience at Kansas, Texas, Maryland, Alabama and Southern Illinois.
Memphis will honor senior forward Amauri Williams and senior manager Taylor Spearman pre-game for Senior Day, which will begin at approximately 1:45 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.
