Women's Basketball Falls 61-57 to ECU on Saturday

Saturday, February 15

Memphis, Tenn.

2 PM

University of Memphis

13-12,4-8AAC

ECU *

6-18,3-8AAC

East Carolina

Memphis

Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

Feb 15, 2020 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Madison Griggs hits record-tying 70th triple of the season in loss

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Memphis women's basketball team's comeback fell short Saturday, as the Tigers dropped a 61-57 decision to ECU. Memphis falls to 13-12 on the season and 4-8 in AAC play.

Freshman guard Madison Griggs connected on three third-quarter three-pointers to tie the school record for threes in a season (70), while junior forward Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu added her 11^th double-double of the season, finishing the game with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Alana Davis led the Tigers with 16 points and added a season-best nine rebounds.

Memphis struggled out of the gate, getting forced into several turnovers by ECU's full-court press. When the Tigers broke the press, Memphis was able to convert on baskets on the inside, scoring six points in the paint. Points off of turnovers, however, allowed East Carolina to jump out early, finding a 22-9 lead after the first quarter.

Both offenses ground to a halt in the second quarter as defenses settled in, resulting in a 30-15 halftime score in favor of ECU. Memphis held the Pirates to just eight points in the stanza, allowing the visitors to shoot 28 percent in the quarter.

The Tigers opened up the second half with a blitzing 17-2 run in the first four minutes of the third quarter. Memphis shot 5-for-6 in that span, including a pair of three-pointers from Griggs and three free throws, to cut the ECU lead to two.

Memphis tied the contest up three times in the quarter and took the lead with 3:24 remaining in the third on a bucket by Julan McDonald.

ECU regained its composure, leveling out and finishing the quarter with a seven-point lead.

A back-and-forth fourth quarter saw Memphis trailing by seven or less for the duration of the period, getting as close as one point with 28 seconds on the clock. Despite outscoring the visitors in the quarter, the Tigers weren't able to overcome the deficit.

Tiger Tidbits

Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu picked up her team-leading 11^th double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. She now sits tied for 17^th all-time in double-doubles at Memphis.
Madison Griggs hit three three-pointers in the third quarter, tying the school record of 70 three-pointers made in a season. She finished with 13 points and five assists.
Alana Davis led the team with 16 points, adding a season-high nine rebounds.
Memphis outrebounded the Pirates, 35-25.
Aerial Wilson recorded a career-high five assists for the Tigers.
Memphis outscored ECU in the paint, 30-20.