Yeah, you saw correctly. You need to be at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse January 29 at 2 pm to watch your Lady Tigers (11-6, 2-4) take on the Temple Owls (9-7, 4-1). Yes, they’re as good as they’ve ever been in recent years, and that should be enough to get anyone excited. But if that’s not enough to pack the stadium, students will also have the chance to win some prizes during and after the game.
Giveaways are set to take place throughout the game, some of which had fans believing the Memphis Women’s Basketball Twitter had been hacked. The prizes that caught everyone’s eyes are slated to start at halftime when a brand new PlayStation 5 will be given out to one lucky student. During the 3rd and 4th quarter break, one student will have the opportunity to hit a three-point shot for a chance to win $3,000. Then when the game is over, each student will be given a pint glass as they are leaving the game.
This promotion comes as the team has seen a 51% increase in attendance from the 19-20 season, and the largest average home attendance since 14-15. The Lady Tigers home game vs. SMU had an attendance over 1,200, which is the largest home attendance for a non-UConn game since 2016-2017.
“Having students at games brings a different type of energy. Knowing the team’s peers are there cheering them on makes working hard just a little more special. We want to represent and give the students something to do that is fun and shows everyone’s school pride,” Head Coach Katrina Merriweather said.
Merriweather isn’t the only Tiger excited to see the crowd size expand beyond the already fantastic attendance this season. Senior forward Alana Davis believes the promotions, along with rebounding crowd support has helped the team find the success it lacked in years prior.
“Being able to play in front of our friends and peers, it’s a hard feeling to describe. The energy and environment they create for us makes the team want to play that much harder. Having that student-base is a key factor in making the Fieldhouse one of the best places to play,” she said.
The Tigers will tip off at 2 pm at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse looking to rebound after their loss at Tulsa Wednesday. If you’re unable to make the event, the game will be streamed on ESPN+.
With Katrina Merriweather's hiring at head coach, the University of Memphis women's basketball team has seen a massive culture shift. Merriweather focuses on making the team feel more like a family, which also prompted players from her former university to transfer with her.
