by Don Mooney
Memphis, TENN—Memphis Lady Tigers continues its hot streak closing out the regular season with seventh win in a row 55-44 against Tulane. Memphis was led by the duo of Jamirah Shutes and Madison Griggs each with double figures in scoring. Shutes finished with 14 points to go with five boards and three assists. Griggs followed with 13 points thus ending Tulane four game consecutive wins.
Offense was difficult to come by for both teams in stretches during the opening 10 minutes. Tulane and the Tigers went back and forth exchanging baskets through most of the frame until Memphis scored the final six points putting the Green Wave down 10-16 at the end of the first. Jones went on the attack for the Green Wave in the second quarter scoring nine of Tulane’s 13 points. After Memphis extended its lead to 10, Jones sparked the Wave to cut it down to three before ultimately hitting the locker room trailing 23-28.
The Memphis offense would explode in the third quarter, opening the half with a 7-0 run that was capped off with two free throws from Shutes. While the Green Wave continued to try and catch Memphis, the Tigers had an answer for everything Tulane threw at them. As a team, Memphis shot 37% from the field, outrebounded the Green Wave 45-28 and forced Tulane into 15 turnovers while holding them to just nine points in the final quarter of play.
Memphis opened up shop in the fourth quarter, pushing their lead out to as much as 14 after Shutes drained a short jumper with 2:07 left to play. While Tulane held the Tigers scoreless in the final minutes of the game, the Memphis defense locked down to hold on for the 55-44 win.
(2) Memphis will play the winner of (7) Tulsa/ (10) UCF in the Quarterfinal Round of the American Athletic Conference Championship on Tuesday, March 7 at 6 p.m. CT in Dickies Arena. Tulane will play Monday against the No. 11 seed Cincinnati. Tipoff between Tulane and the Bearcats is set for 5 p.m. CT from Dickies Arena and will be aired live on ESPN+.
