Tuesday, Feb. 4 - Wednesday, Feb. 5
Highlights
Memphis 64, Tulane 62
The University of Memphis women's basketball team evened the season series against Tulane Tuesday evening with a 64-62 victory at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse. The win improves Memphis to 12-10 overall and 3-6 in American Athletic Conference play.
Junior forward Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu continued to be a force inside for the Tigers, posting a team-high 15 points to go along with 11 rebounds for her ninth double-double of the 2019-20 campaign. Freshman Madison Griggs had a solid showing in 29 minutes for Memphis, knocking down four three-pointers for 12 points.
For Tulane, Sierra Cheatham continued her strong recent play with a game-high 20 points, while Krystal Freeman tabulated a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double.
Memphis' lead grew to as many as nine in the closing minutes of the third quarter before the Green Wave hit a basket at the buzzer to cut the Tigers lead down to seven.
The Tigers came out firing in the fourth quarter, quickly building their lead back up to 11 with a pair of three-pointers by Griggs and a driving lay-up by Herndon. Just as momentum appeared to shift in favor of Memphis, Tulane had a response.
Trailing by four with 3:46 on the clock, Tulane knocked down its 10th triple to cut Memphis' lead down to one, 57-56. Fankam Mendjiadeu responded on the next possession, receiving a dime from Herndon on a Memphis fastbreak.
After establishing a six-point advantage with 1:22 remaining, Memphis held on as Tulane's desperation three-pointer fell just short at the buzzer.
Wichita State 85, Temple 75
Five Shockers finished in double figures, led by Maya Brewer's career-high 19 in an 85-75 road win at Temple Wednesday night in McGonigle Hall.
Wichita State (13-10, 5-5) logged its first regular season sweep of Temple behind a new school record 15 three-pointers. Wichita State also set season highs in three-point attempts (27) and three-point percentage (55.6 percent).
Brewer scored 13 of her team and career-high 19 points in the second quarter to lead a high-flying offensive attack. Ashley Reid knocked down a career-high five three-pointers on the way to 15 points to go with a career-best six assists.
For Temple, Ashley Jones scored a game-high 24 points, dishing out five assists. Marissa Mackins (18 points), Alexa Williamson (12 points) and Asonah Alexander (12 points) all also reached double figures.
Temple got off to a slow shooting start, missing nine of its first 13 shots, but led 11-10 at the midway point of the opening frame behind five offensive rebounds and three Shocker turnovers.
The Owls would then outscore the Shockers 12-5 over the final 5:00 to take a 23-15 lead into quarter No. 2. Temple made five of its final seven shots and was plus-seven on the glass to give the home team an eight-point lead.
A 10-1 start to the second quarter for Wichita State put the Shockers back in front 25-24. Brewer had eight of the 10 points during the run, forcing a Temple timeout just 2:31 into the period.
Brewer continued her scoring spree with a 15-footer and a trey from the left wing to give Wichita State a 32-28 lead at the 4:08 mark. The lead would grow to as many as nine after a corner three from McCarty with 22 seconds left in the half. The Owls would make a pair of free throws, making it a 39-32 lead at the break.
Reid's fourth three-pointer of the game answered a Temple trey to begin the fourth quarter to keep the lead in double digits. With 7:01 remaining, the Owls finally got the deficit back to single digits forcing a Keitha Adams timeout.
Just when it looked like the Owls were prepared to make a comeback, Wichita State had other plans. Back-to-back three-pointers from Brewer and another from Reid pushed the lead back to 16, 84-68.
UCF 62, Tulsa 49
The UCF women's basketball team scored the first six points and never looked back in a 62-49 win over Tulsa in the Reynolds Center on Wednesday evening.
UCF (13-8, 5-4 The American) outscored Tulsa (6-17, 1-9 The American) in all four quarters to earn its second=straight win in league play.
The Knights jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the game and led by as many as eight points, 12-4, in the opening quarter. The Black and Gold put together a 16-0 run in the second quarter to take a 29-10 lead with 5:03 left in the frame. The Golden Hurricane closed out the quarter on a 10-1 run to pull within 10 points, 30-20, heading into the locker room.
While Tulsa was able to cut UCF's lead to single digits twice in the second half, the Knights never allowed the Golden Hurricane to get closer than nine points in either quarter.
The Knights out-rebounded the Golden Hurricane, 37-19, and limited Tulsa to just one offensive rebound in the contest. UCF also scored 23 points off 22 Tulsa turnovers.
The Black and Gold shot 66.7 percent (6-9) from the floor in the opening quarter, and matched that percentage (8-12) in the final frame.
UCF's seniors – Kay Kay Wright and Sianni Martin – stepped up offensively, combining for 37 of UCF's 62 points. Wright led the Knights with three steals. Martin finished just shy of a double-double, tying her career high with nine rebounds. Both dished out three assists.
Destiny Johnson recorded a career-high 15 points for Tulsa, joining Addison Richards (15 points) in double figures.
Houston 55, SMU 53
The University of Houston Women's Basketball team protected its home court and extended its home winning streak to three games, knocking off SMU in a 55-53 decision on Wednesday night at the Fertitta Center.
Bria Patterson (17 points) and Julia Blackshell-Fair (15 rebounds, eight assists) both set career-highs in the contest. Paige Bayliss paced SMU with 10 points and five boards.
The Cougars got out to a slow start, as SMU opened the contest by taking an early lead via an 12-2 run. Dymond Gladney would get going from long-range early sinking a three-pointer before the break as the Cougars headed to their huddle trailing, 19-9.
The Houston offense found its rhythm in the second frame, hitting early shots to get within five points at the halfway point of the quarter. KeAjsa Peace had the hot hand, sinking back-to-back jumpers and scoring six points in a two-minute span. Houston was plagued by cold-shooting in the final three minutes of the half, as the squad headed into the locker room down, 33-22.
Bria Patterson was just the spark that the Cougars needed, providing energy on the offensive end by scoring five early points to get the home team within eight at the halfway point of the frame. Houston put pressure on SMU defensively, forcing turnovers down the stretch to get within three-points before a SMU three-pointer at the buzzer would keep Houston at arm's length heading into the fourth quarter.
Facing an eight-point deficit with 10 minutes to play, Dorian Branch set the tone for UH in the fourth quarter by hitting her second three-pointer of the night in the opening minute. With the game on the line, Patterson knocked down back-to-back triples to put Houston within one-point before Tatyana Hill sank a pair of free throws to give UH its first lead of the night. After trailing for more than 36 minutes, free throws and strong defensive play down the stretch gave Houston its second straight victory in a 55-53 decision.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
