After a three-year drought, postseason basketball returns for the University of Memphis women’s basketball team.
Tigers’ coach Melissa McFerrin’s squad qualified for the Women’s National Invitational Tournament and will host UT Martin in its first round game 7 p.m. Thursday at Elma Roane Fieldhouse.
Though its Memphis’ first postseason berth since 2013, the Tigers have made the postseason in five of McFerrin’s eight seasons at the helm. This included three consecutive seasons of WNIT play from 2011-13.
While Memphis started the 2015-16 season just 9-9, it flourished in the second half of the season and finished with an 18-12 record and a 12-6 conference record, good enough for fourth in the American Athletic Conference. Fellow conference rivals Tulane and Temple join the Tigers in the 64-team bracket.
This season is by far Memphis’ best totals since joining the American ahead of the 2013-14 season. The Tigers strong finish to the season included a win over then-No. 15 USF 88-87 Jan. 20 at Elma Roane Fieldhouse and a five-overtime victory against conference rival Temple Feb. 18, also at Elma Roane Fieldhouse.
The Tigers’ opponent, UT Martin, finished with a 21-9 record and 14-2 conference record in the Ohio Valley Conference. Memphis holds has the all time series advantage against the Skyhawks, 27-3, including a 16-1 advantage in games played at the U of M.
However, this is not the first time the two in state rivals have met in postseason play. In 1999, Memphis defeated UT Martin 87-73 in the WNIT second round at Elma Roane Fieldhouse.
If the Tigers are going to make a run in WNIT, senior guard Ariel Hearn could be a big reason why. Hearn, who made the all-conference team for the third consecutive season, is the only player in school history – male or female – to record 1,500 points, 500 rebounds, and 400 assists.
Memphis, if it wins, would play the winner of the Dayton and Western Kentucky matchup.
