Two weeks ago in Charlotte, the Memphis women's basketball team held a 17-point first half lead over the 13-2 49ers.
Then things fell apart.
The 49ers produced a number of second half spurts, including a 17-7 run to tie the game with six minutes left.
Then Charlotte did what the Lady Tigers couldn't: they closed the game with good possessions and clutch free throws in a 72-65 win.
A casual observer might call it the lowest point of a roller coaster season, but Lady Tigers coach Blair Savage saw just the opposite. She saw it as a turning point.
"Even in our Charlotte game, even though it was a loss, our mentality was stronger. There was more of a team concept. (Our attitude) was more, 'let's get out in the passing lanes and do what we do best.'"
"A lot of good came out of that loss."
Starting guard Tamika Butler agreed.
"We finally realized when we have a team down, we need to keep them down," Butler said.
Since the meltdown at Charlotte, the Tigers have won two straight games entering Friday's game at UAB.
Among them was an 80-52 thrashing of Southern Miss on Sunday. It was the first time all season Memphis reached the 80-point plateau.
The game marked the return of long-time Tiger coach Joye Lee-McNelis, who left following the 2003-2004 season to coach the Golden Eagles. It also represented a step in the right direction, according to senior forward Victoria Crawford.
"The previous games we played, we played a good first half or a good second." Crawford said. "(Against USM) I guess you could say we put two halves together."
"It's the best overall we've played all year."Memphis (9-8) will need a similar effort this weekend, when they travel to UAB on Friday and South Florida on Sunday.
The U of M has had little success away from Elma Roane Fieldhouse, posting a 1-7 record this season. Their last road trip resulted in four consecutive losses.
UAB (4-12) is led by Carmen Guzman's 15.5 points per game. She leads an offensive attack that ranks 12th in the conference with just 57.8 points per game. Still, the Lady Tigers expect a struggle.
"They're hungry for a win and it's going to be a battle of wills to see who can get it done," Savage said.
One key will be for Memphis to avoid turnovers. The U of M has had 20 turnovers or more in six straight games.
"We play a lot of people, so that's one reason (for the turnovers)," Savage said. "But what do you say? We tell them every day (to protect the ball). It's just a matter of getting confidence with the ball in our hands."
That has started to happen. The U of M tied a season high with 18 assists against Southern Miss and starting guard Tamika Butler has 13 assists in her last two games. Butler, a junior, is the only upperclassman among the team's four-guard rotation.
"They're not playing like freshman and sophomores, Butler said. "We just have to keep playing well."
