by Don Mooney 12-3-2023
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The 3-5 University of Memphis women’s basketball team returned to the Elma Roane Fieldhouse for the first time in nearly three weeks to take on Troy University. The Tiger offense exploded for triple-digits today in route to a 100-88 win.
The Tigers mashed the gas early shooting 60 percent from the field with 22 of the team’s 26 first quarter points coming in the paint. Memphis scored on three consecutive trips down the floor with buckets by Aliyah Green, Kai Carter and Layken Cox to take a 26-13 halftime lead.
With 7:25 Ki’Ari Cain hit continues to exceed her 1,000 point career point mark with an and-one play to putting the Tigers up by 18. The duo of Cain and Madison Griggs scored 10 of her game-high 22 points in the second quarter.
A 56-point second-half comeback for Troy women’s basketball fell short to Memphis 100-88 in the Elma Roane Fieldhouse Saturday afternoon. Individually, Makkayia Hallmon joins the 1,000-point club with an 11-point performance.
The Trojans (0-5) suffer their fifth straight loss to open the 2023-24 season despite outscoring the Tigers (3-5) 29-20 in the final quarter as Memphis gets back in the win column.
The scoring onslaught continued into the second half for Memphis; Griggs and Alasia Smith opened with back-to-back three-pointers to push the lead out to 24 and force a Troy timeout. The Tigers lead extended out to as much as 29 following consecutive baskets from Carter with just under five minutes left in the quarter.
After a cold start, offensively, the Trojans strung together 19 points in the final five minutes of the third quarter to cut into Memphis’ lead. A free throw by Tai’Sheka Porchia with 10 seconds left in the frame made it an 80-59 game heading into the final 10 minutes of the game.
Despite Troy pulling out a 29-point fourth quarter while shooting 50 percent from the field, the Tigers lead held steady. Destyne Jackson dropped a three-pointer from the wing to make to put the Tigers up by 21 with a minute and a half it a 21 left in the game. The Trojans put together a 9-0 run for the final 90 seconds of the game, but the Tigers already superior lead would be enough for the 100-88 win.
Madison Griggs led all scorers with 22 points while going 7-15 from the field. Kai Carter, Ki”Ari Cain and Destyne Jackson all reached double-figure scoring while Alasia Smith picked up a double-double of 16 points and 14 rebounds. Memphis shot light’s out today at 48 percent from the field and 43 percent from long range. On the defensive end, the Tigers forced Troy into 22 turnovers.