University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
Cincinnati
Memphis Women Drop 71-58 Decision To Cincinnati
Feb 04, 2001 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 4, 2001
CINCINNATI - Freshman Erin Hostetler registered her second career double-double with a team-high 13 points and 11 rebounds as Cincinnati responded to its first home loss of the season with a 71-58 victory over Memphis on Sunday afternoon in the Shoemaker Center.
The win helped UC improve to 15-7 and 5-6 in Conference USA, while dropping Memphis to 10-11, 3-7 in C-USA.
Hostetler was one of four Bearcats in double figures as sophomore K.B. Sharp had 13 points and junior Portia Flournoy added 12. Freshman Valerie King chipped in 11 points and added two steals and three steals for Cincinnati, while Sharp also registered five assists, four rebounds and a pair of steals as she played all 40 minutes against Memphis' pressure defense. Three other players tallied six points apiece, including Laura Wilder and Tammy Douglass who also ripped down four rebounds.
"I think the kids played together today," commented UC head coach Laurie Pirtle. "We showed that we can play strong and together, which is really important. We are starting to do that and today is an example that."
The Bearcat defense dominated the first 20 minutes of play, creating 12 turnovers and holding the Tigers to 29 percent shooting en route to a 30-25 halftime lead. Cincinnati's backup post players, Hostetler and Flournoy, proved to be the difference, combining for 15 points and 10 rebounds in the half. Memphis' leading scorer, Tiffany Adkins, had seven points and six rebounds in the stanza, but was held to 3-of-9 shooting thanks to UC's relentless pressure.
UC extended the lead in the second half to 11 at 42-31 before Memphis made a run of its own, getting consecutive baskets from Kelly Herron, the second a 3-pointer, to bring the Tigers within six with 15 minutes remaining. Cincinnati brought the lead back out to as many as 16 (64-48) with two and a half minutes left in large part due to Merelenea Dozier, who nailed two 3-pointers in a short stint off the bench, and Sharp, who nailed three buckets as the shot clock expired.
Memphis cut the deficit to 10 with just over a minute remaining, but could get no closer as Cincinnati began a new home win streak two days after having an 11-game streak snapped by UAB.
The Bearcats shot 53 percent from the field for the sixth time this year, while holding Memphis to 32 percent shooting, its second lowest of the season.
Adkins led the Tigers with 17 points and eight rebounds. Kelly Herron had 13 points, while Melissa Abraham had nine rebounds in the loss.
"Cincinnati did a great job of controlling the glass, said Memphis head coach Joye Lee-McNellis. "We had one rebound In the first 12 minutes of the second half, and you can't get the ball up the floor if you can't rebound."
"We showed a lot more energy and intensity than we have in the last few games. Tiffany Adkins has one thing that every young player should strive for. She has grit and a lot of heart. She was banged up and it didn't slow her down."
Cincinnati returns to action on Thursday against DePaul for a 7:30 p.m. game in the Shoemaker Center.
