University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
9-21,3-14American
UAB
11-18,4-13American
Overtime Tilt Goes Against Memphis in 79-76 Defeat
Mar 04, 2026 | Women's Basketball
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – It was another night of high-intensity overtime basketball at Elma Roane Fieldhouse on Wednesday evening, but Memphis women's basketball was on the wrong end of the result this time, falling 79-76 to UAB.
The Tigers (9-21, 3-14 American) only led for seven minutes but saw their largest advantage come with a minute remaining, leading by five before the Blazers (10-19, 4-13 American) tied the game with three free throws with 0.7 remaining. Daejah Richmond led the team in scoring for the 12th time this season with 23 points, and Tamya Smith picked up her second-career double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds.
Memphis came out a bit flat after its high-stakes loss at UTSA, going four minutes scoreless as UAB built an 8-0 lead. The Tigers would fall behind 21-8 before Jordan Hunter scored her first basket since February 19 after missing three games. The sophomore had a stellar game, posting a season-high-tying 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting.
The hosts were immediately up off the mat in the second quarter, going on an 8-0 run to cut it to three before the Blazers scored after three minutes. It was a one-point game before Eleecia Carter connected on both of her threes on the night in quick succession. It was three-point shooting that carried UAB all evening; their 12 threes were the most given up by Memphis this year, and they did it on just 22 attempts.
The Tigers grabbed their first lead with four minutes remaining in the third frame, and after UAB's 5-0 run to regain it, Memphis closed the quarter on a 6-0 run capped by a buzzer-beating mid-range jumper from Richmond to lead by two. Cali Smallwood snapped a four-minute drought to take a fourth quarter lead, but a 7-0 run fueled by Hunter and Tamya Smith gave the Tigers a 62-58 lead with three minutes left.
From then on, UAB freshman Sofia Munoz was the star of the show. The guard hit a three to cut it to one, and after the Tigers went up five, she connected on a tough mid-range jumper to get it back to one possession. After Memphis couldn't score on the other end, UAB called timeout and had a chance to tie the game. After Smith's toe on the line prevented a game-winning steal, the Blazers were able to find Munoz, who was fouled on her three-point attempt with less than a second remaining. The freshman stepped up and drained all three free throws to send Memphis into its fourth overtime game of the year.
Smallwood's fourth and final three-pointer opened the scoring in overtime, and the Blazers would never relinquish that lead. Down three with six seconds to play, a great play design saw Tamya Smith open in the corner for three, but her shot went long as Memphis dropped its second consecutive contest.
The regular season finale will be this Saturday, March 7, at 2 p.m. against Wichita State at Elma Roane Fieldhouse.
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.
