The Memphis Tigers (12-10, 3-6 American Athletic Conference) began their two-game homestand against the Tulsa Golden Hurricanes on Saturday hoping to end their two-game losing skid.
Though the Tigers boasted the better season record, they found themselves at a bit of a disadvantage. They only had seven players available to them as the rest of the roster was forced to sit out because of medical issues.
Most notably, the team’s leading scorer, guard Jamirah Shutes who scored 32 points in the team’s previous contest, is done for the season after suffering an ACL injury. It led her to have a brace on her left leg, and she supports her teammates from the sideline.
In light of her absence, Tigers’ head coach Melissa McFerrin told the media that she knows it going to take multiple players to fill her role.
“I think the one good thing about our team is that we got five and six kids who are averaging eight points and above,” McFerrin said. “I think we just have to spread it around more.”
Luckily for the Tigers, they still had an impressive showing and defeated Tulsa 63-44. This was because of their dominating interior scoring and strong defensive effort. The Tigers kept Tulsa’s shooters in check from the onset and kept them to just nine points in the first quarter.
That trend continued on through the game with the highest points Tulsa scored in a quarter being 13 points and converting on just 19 of their 58 field goal attempts.
McFerrin said that she felt like her team got better throughout the contest and hopes to see more performances like this.
“I thought it was a struggle for a lot of the night,” McFerrin said. “Late in the game we really executed and moved the ball how we wanted to. I think that [Gazmyne] Herndon was great at running our team, and I think our post players did a really nice job of passing post to post and that’s what we wanted to do.”
On Tuesday, the Tigers took the court again in hopes of getting revenge against the Tulane Green Wave who defeated them 59-55 last month.
In the Tigers’ revenge game, they were once again undermanned, just suiting up seven players, but that did not stop them from playing hard.
The Tigers defeated the Green Wave 64-62 to cap off their brief homestand. This now gives them two straight conference wins after just having one.
The Tigers stifled a fourth quarter rally from Tulane to seal the victory, despite at one point having the game being as close as one point with less than two minutes remaining.
Guard Madison Griggs played a big role in her team’s victory with her efficiency from the three-point line. She led the team with four made three-pointers, two of them coming in the fourth quarter.
McFerrin talked about how hard-fought games like this do for her team and she said it emphasizes her team’s need for rest.
“This game showed me that seven players can win two games in a row,” McFerrin said. “I’ve got to give them enough rest to help them manage their bodies right now.”
Following this win, the Tigers’ are heading back on the road to take on the No. 4 ranked UConn Huskies who they pushed to the limit back in January.
Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu shooting a contested layup against Tulane on Feb. 04, 2020. Mendjiadeu recorded a 15 point and 11 rebound double-double in a 64-62 win over the Green Wave.
Aerial Wilson stealing the ball and starting the Memphis fastbreak. The Memphis Tigers defeated the Tulane Green Wave 64-62 Tuesday night.
Gazmyne Herndon makes a quick pass to a teammate on Feb. 04, 2020. Herndon recorded points in a 64-62 win against Tulane at home.
Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu wins the opening tip-ball over Tulane's Mia Heide.
Melissa McFerrin telling Alana Davis what went on during the previous play against Tulane on Feb. 04, 2020.
