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Memphis Press Conference
UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Ariel Hearn paced the Memphis offense with a game-high 25 points in the Tigers’ 71-59 win over SMU in first round action at the 2015 American Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Championship.
Hearn was 10-of-12 from the floor and 4-of-5 from outside for the junior’s eighth 20-point performance of the season. Junior forward Brianna Wright notched her sixth double-double of the season with a 10-point, 13-rebound output for the Tigers.
Memphis surrendered the first basket of the game and never trailed again for the remainder of the game following a Hearn 3-pointer 1:05 into the contest. The trifecta sparked a 16-0 run over 5:24 to set the tone early in the contest.
The Tigers led by as much as 16 in the first half before the Mustangs closed the stanza on a 6-0 run for a halftime score of 37-27 Memphis. The Tigers racked up 14 steals in the first 20 minutes.
SMU trailed by 17 at the eight-minute mark of the second half before rattling off a 10-0 run to cut the deficit to 62-55 with 3:33 to play. Hearn answered with a 3-pointer and the Tigers closed out the game at the line for the final 71-59 margin.
Mustang senior Raven Short tallied a career-high 17 points to lead SMU in the defeat. Junior Destynee Hives-McCray added 12 points and nine rebounds.
Memphis advances to face USF in a quarterfinal game Saturday at 6 p.m. on ESPN3.