University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
Arkansas
Nov 18, 2000 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 18, 2000
MEMPHIS, TENN. - The University of Memphis Lady Tiger basketball team looked sharp in it's season-opener at the Pyramid on Saturday afternoon, fending off the Lady Razorbacks of Arkansas,66-58.
The opening day win ended a seven-year drought of opening day losses which began back in 1993.
"It wasn't pretty, but it was a win," said Memphis head coach Joye Lee-McNelis. "We haven't won a season-opener in quite some time so it was nice to end that losing streak."
Senior all-America candidate Tiffany Adkins took over the game and led the attack for Memphis with 17 points, 10 boards, two blocks and three steals in 35 minutes of action. The double-double effort for Adkins marked the third of her career.
Memphis began the game with a 5-0 run including a three-pointer from junior guard Lauren Jackson just after tip-off. The Lady Tigers led by as many as seven in the first half and went into the intermission up, 29-22.
Memphis kept the intensity going into the second half and kept a formidable lead until the 12:10 mark when Arkansas closed the gap to within two at 37-35, after a three-point basket by India Lewis. The Lady Tigers roared right back with another 5-0 run and held a 42-35 advantage with 10:24 left to play. Memphis then opened up a 10-point lead capped off by a lay-up from senior guard Tiffany Collins with under nine minutes to play, and looked like they might run away from the Lady Razorbacks. Arkansas the came back with one last run of their own.
The Lady Razorbacks scored four straight points and managed to chip away at the Lady Tiger lead, making the score 51-49 with under six minutes to play. Arkansas didn't let up and tied the game at 53 after Lonniy Bragg scored a lay-up at the 4:03 mark. That was as close as the Lady Razorback would get, as Memphis proceeded to run away after a key lay-up from senior guard Patrice Boyd with a little over two minutes remaining in regulation. Freshman forward Shannon Hamp put the finishing touches on the win after she converted a three-point play with five seconds remaining.
Hamp finished with 14 points and eight rebounds while going 5-of-9 from the field. Collins collected eight points to go along with seven assists and a steal.
Both teams shot a dismal 39 percent from the field and recorded 22 turnovers apiece. Memphis outrebounded Arkansas, 49-39, and both teams were less than impressive from the free-throw line. Memphis was 12-of-23 from the line while Arkansas hit 10-of-21 shots from the charity stripe.
Arkansas was led by Bragg and Dana Cherry, who both had 14 in the loss. Bragg also led the Lady Razorbacks in rebounds with 12 including five on the offensive end. Amy Wright dished out a team-high eight assists in 28 minutes of action.
The Lady Tigers will host Mississippi State on Tuesday at The Fieldhouse. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
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