University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
Tulane
Lady Tigers Roll Over Green Wave, 76-61
Feb 16, 2001 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 16, 2001
NEW ORLEANS - In one of the most physical games this season, the University of Memphis women's basketball team defeated the Tulane Green Wave, 76-61, at Fogelman Arena here Friday evening. Memphis improves to 13-11 overall, 6-7 in Conference USA with the win over National Division leader Tulane.
To say the game was physical would not tell the story. All in all, there were 55 fouls, five players fouled out and one player was taken to the emergency room. Memphis' junior Malissa Bush took an elbow to below her right eye and left the game with a possible concussion. She was sent to the emergency room for evaluation.
The Lady Tiger victory over Tulane was the first for Memphis in the last seven meetings. Memphis had not defeated the Green Wave since the 1997-98 season. The 15-point victory was biggest C-USA win for the Lady Tigers since they knocked off DePaul by 18 points in the second league game of the season. Memphis picked up just their second C-USA road win with the victory over Tulane. Their only other road victory in league play was an overtime win over South Florida in Tampa on Super Bowl Sunday.
Senior all-America candidate Tiffany Adkins led the Lady Tigers in scoring with 16 points off a 5-of-12 shooting effort from the field. She was 6-of-10 from the charity stripe. She also totaled seven rebounds, seven assists and three steals. Senior Patrice Boyd and junior Malissa Bush followed Adkins in scoring with 14 points apiece. Tiffany Collins also scored in double digits with 10 points. Boyd led the squad in rebounding with 11 boards, totaling her second career double-double. Her last double-double effort was against Tennessee last year. All seven of Boyd's offensive rebounds were in the second in half.
" This was a great team win,"said head coach Joye Lee-McNelis. "This team is on a mission. We played with a lot of intensity and a lot of heart tonight. This was a huge win for us because we have had so much trouble with Tulane in the past few games. I was very pleased with Patrice Boyd because she played a very physical game. This was the best game of her career."
The Lady Tigers took a 10-point lead into the lockerroom at the half after shooting 42 percent (14-of-23) from the field, and holding Tulane to a 29 percent (9-of-31) shooting clip in the half. Memphis used a relentless press to force Tulane to turn the ball over 12 times. The score was tied 13-13 with just over 12 minutes to play before Memphis used a 10-0 run in the following seven minutes to swing the game in favor of the Lady Tigers, 23-13, with just over five minutes to play in the half. Malissa Bush led the Lady Tigers in scoring in the first half with 10 points off a 4-of-6 shooting effort from the field, and a 1-of-1 showing from the charity stripe. Bush had not scored in double digits since game 13 of the season when she scored 11 points against DePaul on Jan. 5.
Gwen Slaughter led Tulane in scoring with 16 points off a 5-of-10 effort from the field. She was also one of three Tulane players to total 10 rebounds. Teana McKiver totaled 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Janell Burse also pulled down 10 boards. Burse also recorded a double-double of a different nature, pulling down 10 boards and blocking a school-record 10 shots. Despite Tulane three double figure rebounders, Memphis still managed to outrebound the Green Wave, 49-42.
The Lady Tigers will close out their regular season road schedule when they travel to Hattiesburg, Miss., to face Southern Miss on Feb. 18 at 2 :30 p.m. Memphis' next home game will be Feb. 23 when the Lady Tigers host Houston at 7 p.m. at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse.
