University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
UAB
Tigers Gut Out 70-59 Road Win at UAB
Jan 22, 2012 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 22, 2012
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - -
The University of Memphis women's basketball team (14-4, 4-1 C-USA) picked up its second straight road win with a 70-59 win at UAB (13-5, 4-2 C-USA), Sunday night.
The Tigers hurried out to a 5-0 lead, but were struggling against UAB's various full court presses. But with the home team up 15-14, Danay Collier drilled a three right in front of the Blazer bench to push Memphis back in front 15-14. The Tigers used a 6-0 run to stretch that lead to 21-16, holding UAB to just one field goal in a five minute stretch from the under 12 to the under eight media breaks. UAB junior guard Amber Jones kept the home team close, ripping off seven straight points to keep the Tiger lead at single digits, but freshman Lauren McGraw knocked down a three point field goal to start a 7-2 Memphis run that sent the Tigers into the locker room up 34-23 at the half.
Memphis talked about not letting the lead dip below 10 in the locker room coming out in the second half, but the host Blazers, who sport the nation's No. 3 ranked defense, had other ideas, trimming what was a 17-point Memphis lead to single digits with a pair of threes from Karisma Chapman that got the Blazer bench and crowd back in to the game. Memphis got a bit frantic against the Blazer pressure, not getting any shots off out of their offense while LaShaunda Pratt drilled two three-pointers of her own to cut the lead to 55-52 with 6:39 to play. But Memphis kept going right back inside to Jasmine Lee. The senior either drew fouls or kicked the ball to the guards on the wings and senior guard Ramses Lonlack knocked down a tough jumper in the paint to put the Tigers back up double-digits at 62-52. UAB drew some fouls on the Tigers in the paint on the other end to dip in to single digit deficits again, but Nicole Dickson cut off a double team of Lee, and Brittany Carter fed her the ball to get the Tigers back in front by double-digits. The Tigers then closed out the win at the free-throw line, where Memphis hit 22-of-31 shots for the night.
Brittany Carter led Memphis with 22 points on 8-for-13 shooting, adding five rebounds. Ramses Lonlack finished with 15 points and seven rebounds, Nicole Dickson with 14 points and nine rebounds and Jasmine Lee with a double-double of 11 points and 12 rebounds. Memphis shot 22-for-31 (71 percent) from the free-throw line and out-rebounded UAB 45-29.
Memphis returns home for one more conference game in the month of January. The Tigers will host Marshall, Thursday, at 7 p.m. in the Elma Roane Fieldhouse.
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