Over the Thanksgiving holiday the University of Memphis women's basketball team played three games in three days against fierce competition in the Paradise Jam tournament in the Virgin Islands but returned to the Bluff City without any wins to be thankful for.
The Tigers played perhaps their best game of the tournament in their opener against a then undefeated and nationally ranked No. 12 Texas A&M University.
Memphis led 12-10 with 11 minutes to go in the first half before allowing the Aggies to go on a 13-1 run that saw them take control of the game. The Tigers brought it back to within one point in the second half but were unable to get over the hump as Texas A&M pulled away with a 10 point victory. Final score -Aggies 69, Tigers 59.
The remaining two games were not nearly as competitive.
The Tigers leapt out to an 8-2 lead against Syracuse University but were outscored 43-22 in the remainder of the first half before ultimately falling 77-58.
Against the University of Texas, Memphis scored just 10 points on 3-24 shooting in the opening half as they were blown out 65-36.
Memphis' Paradise Jam opponents entered the tournament with a combined 11-1 record. The three losses dropped the Tigers to 3-5 on the year.
While the Tigers left the Virgin Islands with the same amount of victories as when they arrived, the tournament allowed them to get their first taste of some of the intense competition they will face in conference play.
The Tigers are back in action Saturday afternoon in Elma Roane Fieldhouse against a former Conference USA foe in the University of Alabama-Birmingham Blazers. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m.
