University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
Southern Miss
Lady Tigers Defeat Southern Miss, 73-58
Feb 18, 2001 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 18, 2001
HATTIESBURG, MISS. - The University of Memphis women's basketball team extended its winning streak to four games after defeating the Southen Miss Golden Eagles, 73-58 , here Sunday afternoon. Memphis improves to 14-11 on the year, 7-7 in Conference USA with the win, while USM drops to 13-13 overall, 5-10 in the league.
This was the first time in the last four games that the Lady Tigers had defeated Southern Miss. Earlier in the year, USM defeated the Lady Tigers, 65-62, in overtime at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse. The last time that Memphis had defeated Southern Miss in Hattiesburg was on a last second shot by former Lady Tiger Tamika Whitmore during the 1998-99 season.
Seniors Patrice Boyd and Tiffany Adkins led Memphis in scoring with 20 points apiece. Adkins has scored 20 or more points in nine of the last 14 games, and Patrice Boyd became just the second Lady Tiger this season to score 20 or more points in a game. Adkins was 8-of-15 from the field and led the squad in rebounding, totaling 12 boards in the ninth double-double of her career. Boyd was 9-of-14 from the field, and also totaled six rebounds and two assists. Tiffany Collins and Shannon Hamp also scored in double digits for the Lady Tigers with 13 points and 10 points, respectively. Collins led the Lady Tigers in assists with six.
"Patrice played very well tonight," said head coach Joye Lee-McNelis. "She shot the ball well and she rebounded well. She was a major factor in our win here today and our win at Tulane. Tiffany Adkins played hard and hit some key threes for us. I was very pleased with her intensity and her energy."
"Any time that you can have several players in double figures and several players rebounding for her, you can be successful," added McNelis.
The Lady Tigers took a 43-33 lead into the lockerroom at the half after shooting 54.8 percent (17-of-31) from the field and hitting 4-of-5 shots from three-point range. Seniors Tiffany Adkins and Patrice Boyd led Memphis in scoring at the half with 14 points and 10 points, respectively. Memphis led 23-12 with just over 11 minutes to play in the half before USM used a 10-0 run to get within one point of the Lady Tigers, 23-22 with just over eight minutes to play. USM scored six of their last nine points in the half from the free-throw line, but it was not enough to pull the lead at the half. USM shot 44 percent (11-of-25) from the field abd were 10-of-11 from the charity stripe in the half. Both squads forced its opponent to turn the ball over 10 times, but Memphis capitalized on the takeaways, scoring 13 points off turnovers, while Southern Miss scored just two points off the turnovers.
Victoria Mason led Southern Miss in scoring with 15 points off a 6-of-13 effort from the field. She also led her squad in rebounding, pulling down six boards in the loss. Angela Johnson and Krystal Courtney both scored 11 points, while Jessica Woods also scored in double digits with 10 points.
The Lady Tigers shot 51.9 percent (27-of-52) from the field and held Southern Miss to a 37.9-percent (22-of-58) shooting clip. Memphis outrebounded Southern Miss, 37-29, and forced USM to turn the ball over 17 times.
The Lady Tigers will close out the 2000-01 regular season next weekend when they host Houston on Friday, Feb 23, and South Florida on Sunday, Feb. 25. Seniors Tiffany Adkins, Patrice Boyd, Tiffany Collins and Kelly Herron will be honored before the South Florida meeting on Sunday. The C-USA Tournament will feature all 12 league schools in Milwaukee, March 2-5. The official bracket will be released late Sunday evening once all teams have completed play.
