The University of Memphis women’s basketball team entered the 2014-15 season with a deeper, more experienced roster and hopes of improving from a 13-18 campaign in the year prior, but instead wrapped up the season with a 14-17 record and a blowout loss in the second round of the American Athletic Conference Tournament.
At least on paper the Tigers’ roster was certainly improved from the 2013-14 season. Memphis returned four of their five starters, and then added a massive recruiting class of five freshmen and junior college transfer Brianna Wright.
Things went well for the Tigers in the early going of the season — notching two blowout wins to Missouri State and Samford before falling by single digits in hard-fought contests against quality competition in Illinois and Minnesota — but much like a season ago Memphis struggled once conference play began and really began to fizzle out in the final games of the season. Head coach Melissa McFerrin’s squad finished the year on a 3-8 skid this year, and on a 3-10 one in 2013-14.
The women’s basketball team has been finding out the hard way that the school’s transition between Conference USA and the AAC is not an easy one. In Memphis’ first two seasons in the new conference the Tigers are a combined 13-23 against conference opponents, and have taken some lopsided losses along the way. For reference, Memphis was 8-8 in its final season in C-USA in 2012-13.
But while the season might not have gone completely according to plan, that’s not to say it was a complete failure. Her numbers were slightly down from a season ago, but junior guard Ariel Hearn was named to the all-conference second team after averaging 16.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists for the Tigers in 34 minutes per game.
Tiger newcomer Brianna Wright started 30 games for Memphis, averaging 7.1 points and 8.2 rebounds while shooting 47.5 percent from the field. In addition to the stats, Wright brought toughness under the basket night in and night out that wasn’t previously a staple of the team. And with Wright still possessing another year of eligibility, the Tigers should be returning all five starters next season.
Next season’s Memphis squad is set up to be McFerrin’s most senior-laden team since the 2012-13 season. If the starting lineup remains the same then the Tigers will start two seniors in the frontcourt and a senior, a fourth year junior and a sophomore in the backcourt. Memphis also will not lose a single player due to graduation, so barring transfers the entire team will be back with another year of experience.
The Tigers’ five freshmen didn’t make much of an impact this year, but may be ready to contribute and add to the team’s depth after racking up a year of experience at the Division I level.
The Blue and Gray have had a difficult time adjusting to the American Athletic Conference, but with the amount of talent set to return the Tigers’ should be expecting to find themselves on the right side of the win column much more often next season.
The Tigers have failed to make the postseason in their first two years in the American Athletic Conference. Memphis will hope bringing everyone back next year will change that trend. Photo by Joe Murphy.
