University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
Charlotte
Lady Tigers Defeat Charlotte, 76-71
Feb 11, 2001 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 11, 2001
MEMPHIS, TENN. - The University of Memphis women's basketball team defeated the Charlotte 49ers, 76-71, here at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse Sunday afternoon. Memphis extends its winning streak to two games and improves to 12-11 overall, 5-7 in Conference USA.
Senior All-America candidate Tiffany Adkins led Memphis' offensive effort with 21 points off a 7-of-13 effort from the field. She was 7-of-10 from the free-throw line and pulled down six rebounds. Adkins has scored 20 or more points in eight of the last 12 games. She also dished out four assists and forced four steals in the win. Three other Lady Tigers scored in double figures against the 49ers, including Shannon Hamp who scored 11 points and Melissa Abraham and Princess Swilley who both poured in 10 points apiece. Abraham recorded her fifth career double-double after leading Memphis with a game-high 12 rebounds.
The Lady Tigers shot a blistering 33 percent (8-of-24) from the field in the second half, allowing Charlotte to outscore them 39-36 in the second half. Charlotte shot 45.5 percent (15-of-33) from the field in the second half, and ended the game with a 48.3 shooting mark from the field. Memphis managed a 34.9 percent shooting clip for the game. The Lady Tigers were tough defensively, forcing Charlotte to turn the ball over 26 times. Charlotte blocked a game-high seven shots, led by Adrienne Jordan's three blocks.
Charlotte used a 9-2 run with just over eight minutes to play in the game, to swing the lead in their direction, 54-53, for their first lead in the second half. Charlotte led one other time, 56-55, but that was their last lead of the game. Memphis pushed the lead to 10 with just under a minute to play, but Charlotte cut the lead, and the eventual win, to five points off two off a 9-2 run in the final minute.
Two 49ers scored 20 or more points in their loss to the Lady Tigers, led by Tonya Phifer's 25 points off a 10-of-19 shooting effort from the field. She also dished out three assists and pulled down three rebounds. Alicia Abernathy followed Phifer with 20 points off a 7-of-11 shooting mark from the field. She also hit 6-of-9 shots from the charity stripe, and pulled down a team-high 11 rebounds. Sara Fisher also scored in double figures with 10 points, while Jordan grabbed 10 rebounds.
The Lady Tigers took a 40-32 lead into the lockerroom at the half after shooting 35.9 percent (14-of-39) from the field. Charlotte shot an impressive 52 percent (13-of-25) from the field, but the Lady Tigers forced the 49ers to turn the ball over 15 times in the first half. Memphis hit 11-of-16 baskets from the free-throw line, while Charlotte struggled from the charity stripe, hitting just 6-of-12 from the line. Tonya Phifer led Charlotte in the half with 14 points off a 6-of-9 shooting effort from the field, while Tiffany Adkins led Memphis with 13 points off a 5-of-8 mark from the field. Despite nine rebounds by Memphis' Melissa Abraham, Charlotte outrebounded the Lady Tigers, 21-20, in the half.
The Lady Tigers will hit the road for their final conference road trip of the regular season when they travel to New Orleans and Hattisburg, Miss. to face Tulane and Southern Miss. Memphis will face the Tulane Green Wave on Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. and then will face the USM Golden Eagles on Feb. 18 at 2 :30 p.m.
