Football
The University of Memphis has announced its 2002 football schedule and for the first time in the school’s history the Tigers will play 12 regular season games.
Memphis will play eight Conference USA contests, including home games against Tulane, C-USA champion Louisville, Houston and Army. The Tigers’ non-conference home schedule consists of a season-opening matchup against Murray State and an Oct. 19 contest against Mississippi State.
Memphis’ road schedule will include C-USA foes Southern Mississippi, Alabama-Birmingham, Cincinnati, TCU and non-conference games against Ole Miss and South Florida.
“We have looked forward to the start of the eight-game conference schedule,” Memphis Athletic Director R.C. Johnson said. “I think this schedule gives stability to our conference and more credence to league play.”
The Tigers have one game scheduled for national television. The Memphis-Louisville game on Thursday, Oct. 8 will be aired on ESPN2.
“I know the team is anxious to play eight league games and the fans will enjoy the non-conference opponents,” head coach Tommy West said. “I can’t wait to get started.”
2002 Schedule
Aug. 31 • Murray State
Sept. 7 • at Ole Miss
Sept. 14 • at Southern Miss
Sept. 21 • Tulane
Sept. 28 • at UAB
Oct. 8 • Louisville (ESPN2)
Oct. 19 • Mississippi State
Oct. 26 • at Cincinnati
Nov. 2 • Houston
Nov. 9 • at South Florida
Nov. 23 • Army
Nov. 30 • at TCU
Women’s Basketball
The Lady Tigers dropped to 11-12 overall and 5-5 in Conference USA after suffering two road losses over the weekend to Louisville and Cincinnati.
On Sunday against Cincy (19-4, 8-3 in C-USA), Memphis had four players in double figures, but couldn’t overcome some hot shooting by the Bearcats as Cincinnati went on to win, 85-59. The Bearcats, led by Valerie King’s 26 points, shot 55 percent (32-of-58) from the field compared to Memphis’ 43 percent (25-of-58).
“I knew that Cincinnati was going to be one of the best teams that we have played all season,” Lady Tiger head coach Joye Lee-McNelis said.
Friday night in Louisville, Memphis was outscored, 62-48, in the second half by the Cardinals (14-9, 7-4), who rallied for a 95-88 win. The Tigers had led, 40-33, at halftime.
“This was definitely the tale of two halves as we have seen in many of our games this season,” Lee-McNelis said. “The first half was ours, but we just gave up.”
With Memphis leading by 16 points, Louisville closed out the first half with a 9-0 run before opening up the second half with a 15-9 run. The lead changed hands several times down the stretch before Louisville went up for good, 86-84, with 2:10 remaining.
Junior forward Rita Beckwith led Memphis with a career-high 20 points while junior center Shannon Hamp had 19 points and three rebounds. LaKisha Hoffman led the Cardinals with 21 points.
Memphis closes out its home schedule this weekend against TCU Friday and Houston Sunday.
Men’s Tennis
Memphis improved to 2-3 Sunday afternoon after beating Tennessee Tech, 6-1, in the Tigers’ first home match of the 2002 spring season.
Memphis won five of six singles matches and took both doubles matches.
Singles
1-Joe Schmulian (UM) lost to Gernot Fischer (TT), 6-4, 6-4
2-Richard Magney (UM) def. Razvan Ilie (TT), 7-6, 6-1
3-Benn Stapp (UM) def. Luis Aguerrevere (TT), 6-4, 1-6, 6-3
4-Lee Taylor Walker (UM) def. Piotr Wawzyniak (TT), 6-4, 6-3
5-Alex Bucewicz (UM) def. Simon Tremblay (TT), 6-3, 6-2
6-Michael Chamberlain (UM) def. Will Chappell (TT), 2-6, 6-4, 6-1
Doubles
1-Walker/Stapp vs. Fischer/Ilie (DNF)
2-Chamberlain/Schmulian def. Tremblay/Aguerrevere, 8-3
3-LaHaie/Bucewicz def. Chappell/Wawzyniak, 8-2
