Tigers defeat Tulsa in Play4Kay game

Saturday, February 1

Memphis, Tenn.

3 PM

University of Memphis

11-10,2-6AAC

Tulsa *

6-16,1-8AAC

Tulsa

Memphis

Photo by: Brandon Dill

Feb 01, 2020 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds for eighth career double-double

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis women's basketball team participated in its annual Play4Kay game and picked up a 63-44 victory over Tulsa Saturday afternoon. The Tigers improve to 11-10 on the year and 2-6 in American Athletic Conference play with a home contest against Tulane coming up on Tuesday.

Prior to tipoff against the Golden Hurricane, the Tigers welcomed a local Memphis high school student down to center court and granted them their MakeAWish in front of friends and family.

Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu posted her eighth double-double of the season with 18 points and 12 rebounds to pace the Tigers. Gazmyne Herndon also scored in double figures, finishing with 11 points to go with six rebounds and four assists.

Tulsa won the tip and on the opening possession, hit a left corner three with 9:42 on the clock. That three-pointer proved to be the only basket for over six minutes as the Memphis defense forced six turnovers and six missed field goals resulting in a 14-0 run by the Tigers.

During Memphis' run, Alana Davis recorded an offensive rebound and put back while Madison Griggs knocked down her 55^th three-pointer of the 2019-20 season.

To cap the run, freshman guard Aerial Wilson knocked down her fifth consecutive three-pointer for her first basket of the contest. Tulsa then halted Memphis' run with 3:34 left in the first quarter.

After Tulsa cut Memphis' lead down to eight with 5:34 left before intermission, the Tigers used three-straight baskets by Keke Hunter and Gazmyne Herndon to build its lead back up to 14 over the Golden Hurricane.

In the first half, Memphis held Tulsa's leading scorer, Kendrian Elliott, to just two points. For the contest, Elliott was forced into foul trouble and finished with eight points, six points shy of her season average.

Just as Tulsa attempted to cut into Memphis' lead in the third quarter, the Tigers had a response. Leading 34-27 before the under-five media timeout, Fankam Mendjiadeu drew one of her five drawn fouls to head to the line for two. After knocking down both free throws, Memphis went on a 7-0 run to build its lead back up to 14 with 1:56 remaining in the third.

Tulsa cut back into Memphis' lead one more time in the first two and half minutes of the fourth quarter, coming within seven points, before the Tigers rallied together to break open the contest. With 2:11 remaining in the game, Griggs hit her second triple of the contest, giving Memphis a 20-point advantage.

The Tigers finished the contest with 24 trips to the charity stripe, converting on 19 of them. Memphis also finished with 13 steals and a 40 percent effort from the floor.

Memphis is back in action next Tuesday against Tulane. Tipoff against the Green Wave is slated for 7 p.m. at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse. For more information on the Memphis women's basketball team, follow the Tigers on social media at @MemphisWBB.