by Don Mooney
1-28-2023
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Memphis Tiger women’s hoopsters couldn’t out shoot the Lady Bulls of the University of South Florida. In spite of timely buckets the Lady Tigers competed much better than their previous performance but fell this afternoon 67-62.
Ranked 25th in the nation the Bulls halted the Tigers two-game winning streak, moving Tigers to 12-9 overall and 4-4 in American Athletic Conference play. The win is also the 10th straight for South Florida and its 13th win in the last 15 games.
The South Florida offense came out hot – shooting 50% from the field while forcing five turnovers from the Tigers. Madison Griggs would keep Memphis within reaching distance after back-to-back three-pointers to make it a 14-10 game. USF would add in two lay-ups in the final minute of the quarter to put the Tigers down 18-10 heading into the second.
The tale of the tape was play from senior Elena Tsineke who poured in a game-high 23 points and red shirt senior Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu with 17 points and 13 rebounds in the win. Fankam Mendjiadeu hit another impressive milestone, grabbing her 1,000th career rebound with her ninth of the game.
The Tigers would get a big second quarter from Hannah Riddick, who scored seven of her 12 points that included a buzzer-beater three-pointer from the top of the key that cut the Memphis deficit to 19-15 just two minutes into the quarter.
As the Tigers continued to cut into the Bulls lead, the USF offense would get nine consecutive points from long range to push their lead back out to double digits. Emani Jefferson would challenge the USF defense with an -and one at the end of the half to put Memphis down 34-24 heading into the break.
The teams would continue with back and forth scoring into the third quarter where Memphis would face a 52-41 deficit heading into the final 10 minutes of play. After USF would push their lead out to as much as 14 to open the fourth quarter, Memphis would string together an 11-0 run that was capped off by another three-pointer from Griggs to cut the Bulls lead to just five with just over 90 seconds left on the clock. Despite Jamirah Shutes getting a last second bucket, South Florida would sink two free throws down the stretch to hand the Tigers the 67-62 loss.
Shutes led the team with 17 points while Griggs and Riddick chipped in 14 and 12, respectively. Destiny Thomas had a big day on the boards, grabbing 10 rebounds, seven of them coming on the offensive end.
As a team, Memphis shot 34% from the field and shot a season-high 93% from the free throw line.
The Tigers will be back on the court on Wednesday, Feb. 1 when they host Houston. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
