University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
7-18,5-9AAC
UAB
15-11,6-8AAC
Five Tigers Score Double Figures in Victory Over UAB
Feb 19, 2025 | Women's Basketball
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Memphis women's basketball picked up its third consecutive home on Wednesday night inside Elma Roane Fieldhouse, using huge runs in the second and third quarters to defeat UAB, 80-71.
The Tigers (7-18, 5-9 AAC) fell behind early but stormed back to level the season series with the Blazers (15-11, 6-8 AAC), who similarly used big middle quarters to defeat Memphis in Birmingham. Tanyuel Welch tied her career high with 21 points and added 10 rebounds for the first double-double of her career.
Alasia Smith had 15 points and nine rebounds, which gave her 1,291 and passed Regina Street, who is the program's all-time leading rebounder. Five players scored double figures for the second time this season (Samford, November 10): Tilly Boler had 15, and Elauna Eaton and Tamya Smith added 13 and 10, respectively.
Memphis' record at Elma Roane Fieldhouse improves to 6-5 on the season; a win in one of their final two home games would ensure a winning record at their place for a fourth consecutive season.
The Blazers came out firing from deep, connecting on four of their first seven long balls and taking an early 16-10 lead. Alasia Smith free throws and an Eaton three cut the lead to one with just over three minutes left in the period, but UAB closed the quarter on a 7-0 run to take a 23-15 lead after 10 minutes.
The visitors carried momentum into the early stages of the second stanza, getting the lead up to 30-17, but the pursuant 12 minutes were all Tigers. After an Eleecia Carter layup gave the Blazers 32 points, they would score just once more in the final 7:30 of the half as Memphis rattled off a 20-2 run to close out the quarter behind nine points from Welch and six from Alasia Smith.
After the break, Memphis scored five unanswered points to make the run 25-2 before Maddie Walsh ended an eight-minute scoring drought with a three-pointer. Another 12-0 run for the hosts capped the incredible 12 minutes at 37-7 in favor of Memphis as they took a 57-39 lead. UAB would not go away, making their next two threes to spark a 10-0 run and cut the lead to eight before Memphis got it back to 12 at the end of the third following a beautiful feed from Eaton to Layken Cox inside.
The Blazers crawled all the way back from 18 down to cut it to one with five minutes remaining, but crucial threes from Boler and Eaton put the Tigers back up seven. Stops on the next two possessions and a turnaround jumper from Tamya Smith ensured that the Tigers would see out their seventh consecutive victory over UAB at home.
While UAB shot 10-for-31 from deep, their fourth-most threes in conference play, Memphis' aggression inside led to 20 free throws – shooting 80% – while UAB attempted just three. The Tigers used 11 steals to get 17 points and only allowed two second-chance points after conceding 43 across the prior two games.
Memphis will travel to Tampa, Florida, this weekend to battle with South Florida on Saturday, Feb. 22, at 6:00 p.m. CT.
How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tigers Basketball, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
