In the wake of a snow storm blasting through Memphis, the Tigers Women's Basketball team carried on as usual, picking up an 80-71 win over UAB in Elma Roane Fieldhouse.
They say that basketball is a game of runs and that phrase perefctly encapsulates this contest. After going down seven after the first quarter with stellar three point shooting, the Tigers, led by Tanyuel Welch's 21 and 10 performance, exploded with a 20-2 stretch in the second to take a six point halftime lead.
"In basketball, runs, you can compare that to playing chess," said Alex Simmons after the game. "As you're playing, it almost like, which coach is going to call timeout first?"
Not to be outdone, UAB responded to each run Memphis had with one of their own, matching 5-0 and 10-0 runs with the Tigers and going on a 9-0 run of their own to cut the Memphis lead to nine going into the fourth quarter, where the Tigers would outlast the Blazers' comeback bid and get the victory.
"We know we have to get stops and we have to take really good shots. I think their run really didn't have anything to do with them, I think we were just taking some not great shots and too quick shots," said Simmons on UAB's runs.
This game saw five different Tigers score in double digits: Welch (21), Alasia Smith (15), Tilly Boler (15), Elauna Eaton (13), and Tamya Smith (10). Coach Simmons described the effort as "a great team win" for Memphis.
The Tigers will be back in action on Feb.22 when they take on USF in Tampa.
