University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
UAB
Lady Tigers Fall Just Short of Upset Bid
Jan 27, 2007 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 27, 2007
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - - A five minute scoring drought late in the second half cost the University of Memphis an upset bid in an 84-77 loss at league-leading UAB, Saturday night to open a three-game Conference USA road trip.
"I thought first half we made the extra pass, we were totally confident," head coach Blair Savage-Lansden said. "We were moving the ball, making the extra pass, and we stuck to our game plan. We communicated well and our defense and our energy on defense really helped us out."
Memphis led at the half after shooting 43.8 percent and out-rebounding UAB 18-15. The two teams combined for 13 three-point field goals to open the game, as Memphis knocked down seven threes, including four from Devin Necaise and two from freshman Alysse Davis, while UAB drained six shots from beyond the arc, with four coming from Diamond Rogers. UAB switched to a 2-3 zone to try to slow down the Memphis shooters, and it allowed the Blazers to pull back from an eight point deficit to take a 32-31 lead, their first since the 14:52 mark.
But Memphis kept working the ball around the zone, finally making a move and driving past defenders, and when Aroha Jennings drove past her defender for a jumper, she gave Memphis a 36-34 lead with 24.2 seconds to play. But UAB would hurry back up the floor and drive the paint, as Faitha Salaam converted the layup to tie the game at 36 all. But Memphis would head back down to the offensive end and the ball would go all the way around the perimeter to a waiting Necaise, who knocked down the three as the clock expired to send the Lady Tigers to the locker room up 39-36. Memphis out-rebounded the Blazers 18-15 in the first half and had drawn two offensive charges, forcing two of UAB's four first half turnovers.
Memphis also got stronger on their offensive possessions, committing just two turnovers in the opening 20 minutes.
"We went and played box and one and we knew Guzman was going to try to take over and she did," Savage said. "We talked about how Guzman's going to get hers and how we got to keep everybody else from scoring but we didn't get that done in the second half. In the second half, UAB started penetrating more and we just didn't get there quick enough."
Guzman, the country's sixth-leading scorer, finished with 22 points, 18 of them in the second half, while Diamond Rogers led all scorers with 28 points. The win gives UAB a half game lead in the C-USA standings, with Tulane, Marshall and Southern Miss tied for second.
Devin Necaise led Memphis with 24 points, hitting six shots from beyond the arc, while Aroha Jennings added 21 points. Alysse Davis added 11 points, tying her career high, but 12 second half turnovers kept Memphis from getting any good looks during the second half scoring drought from the 7:49 mark in the second half until Jennings hit a three at the 2:14 mark.
Memphis will continue its three-game road trip with a game at Marshall, Thursday, at 7 p.m. (ET). That came can be heard on WUMR, 91.7 FM in Memphis or on www.gotigersgo.com.
