The Memphis Tigers women’s basketball team lost 66-59 to the New Orleans Privateers, bringing their overall record to 2-6. They’re currently on a three-game losing streak and will hope to change their fortunes as they prepare to take on the Samford Bulldogs this Sunday at Elma Roane Fieldhouse.
Jasmine James is the team’s unsung hero
Though guard Jamirah Shutes and forward Alana Davis receive much of the team’s acclaim, forward Jasmine James has been the Tigers’ most consistent player this season.
James averages 6.3 points per game, tying her at second at her position, and she is second on the team with an average of 6.3 rebounds per game. In Tuesday’s game against New Orleans, she scored nine points with seven rebounds and a team-leading five assists. She also had a block in the third quarter.
James has started every game this season, has been one of the more motivating players on the team and is one of the players head coach Melissa McFerrin trusts to distribute messages to the team while they’re on the court.
Three-point shooting is slowly but surely improving
This season, the Tigers have been shooting 25.4 percent from the three-point line, including 18.8 percent against Toledo in their last game. They shot 31.3 percent from the arc against New Orleans.
Shutes and fellow guard Kiana Coomber made multiple three-point shots, leading the team with two three-pointers made. In total, three players made long-range shots, which helped them combat Privateers’ three-point ace Traya Bruce, who had four three-pointers of her own.
Tigers struggle to capitalize on second-chance opportunities
One of the bright spots about the Tigers is their tenacity in the paint and ability to get rebounds, especially offensive boards. They out-rebounded the Privateers 46 to 38, with 19 of the rebounds being offensive. However, even with all the extra possessions, they were only able to score 10 points on second-chance opportunities.
McFerrin said it is important to capitalize on these opportunities and her team had the wrong mentality going into the game.
“We’ve been talking a lot about making layups,” McFerrin said. “We’ve been missing a lot of easy shots, and we just didn’t have a winning mentality.”
Postgame analysis
The Tigers may have lost this game, but their performance through the first three and a half quarters shows they have potential. Had they been able to exploit their extra scoring opportunities, such as their second chance opportunities, and made their free-throws, they could have run away with this game.
As a team, the Tigers made six of their 18 free-throw attempts, which was only good for 33.3 percent. That inconsistency makes it easy for opposing teams to foul them in late game situations, like what happened in this game. For them to become a winning ball club, they have to improve on these mistakes and pick up these easy points.
James spoke to the media about what it would take for the Tigers to end their current three-game losing streak and defeat Samford on Sunday.
“First, we have to work on our execution,” James said. “We really get down and into our heads, so we need to work on that.”
Kiana Coomber takes a wide-open three-point shot against New Orleans (3-3). Memphis women's basketball fell to 2-6 after the 66-59 loss at home.
Jamirah Shutes driving against defenders looking for an open teammate. Despite playing well, Shutes and company loss at home against New Orleans.
Jamirah Shutes holds the ball over New Orleans defender, looking to pass to an open teammate.
