Ki’Ari Cain (l) drives to hoop early in first quarter. Later floats the game-winner as Tigers remain undefeated at home.
by Don Mooney
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Lady Tigers of Memphis handed Southern Miss (7-1) women’s basketball their first loss of the season after a back-and-forth 69-67 battle against Memphis. The Tigers point guard Ki’Ari Cain floated the game-winner with 2.1 seconds left in regulation to cap off a back and forth thriller..
Tiger sniper Madison Griggs sank her fourth three-pointer with 43 seconds left on the clock. A Lady Eagle missed shot turned into a transition play for Memphis where Cain hit a floater with two seconds remaining to put the Tigers up 69-67. Shelbee Brown pulled down the game-winning rebound as time expired to give Memphis the two-point win.
How It Played Out
The Tigers got out to a hot start, taking as much as a 12-point lead after Alasia Smith drained the team’s fifth consecutive three-pointer with 2:42 left in the first quarter. Southern Miss answered right back with six-points to end the quarter with Memphis taking the 21-15 lead.
Destyne Jackson pushed the Tigers back to a nine-point lead with the team’s sixth three-pointer of the game less than a minute into the second quarter. The Tigers held its lead throughout the quarter but would fall behind in the final minutes of the half following a 6-0 run from the Lady Eagles. Memphis faced the 34-33 deficit heading into the break.
Madison Griggs put the Tigers up by five to open the third quarter; after two made free-throws following a Southern Miss intentional foul. Griggs drained a three-pointer from the top of the key for the 38-34 lead just 45 seconds into the half.
The Tigers and Lady Eagles traded baskets in the third quarter with Memphis retaining its lead following another deep shot from Griggs and a free throw from Kai Carter for the 53-48 advantage heading into the final 10 minutes of play. Southern Miss fought back in the fourth quarter – tying the game 4:31 remaining after stringing together a 7-0 run. Memphis trailed for the next three-and-a-half minutes until Griggs and Ki’Ari Cain came in clutch.
Griggs sank her fourth three-pointer of the day with 43 seconds left on the clock. A Lady Eagle missed shot turned into a transition play for Memphis where Cain hit a floater with two seconds remaining to put the Tigers up 69-67. Shelbee Brown pulled down the game-winning rebound as time expired to give Memphis the two-point win.
Kai Carter and Madison Griggs led the team in scoring with 14 points, each, while Ki’Ari Cain and Hannah Riddick added in 13 and 12 points, respectively. Alasia Smith provided a solid eight points, nine rebounds, seven assists and three blocks.
The Lady Eagles (7-1) were led in scoring by Domonique Davis (DeRidder, La.) with 25 points. Melyia Grayson (Hattiesburg, Miss.) put up 15 of her own to combine for 40 of Southern Miss’ 67 points. final 2:06.
Memphis led for 30:49 of the game’s 40 minutes, allowing Southern Miss to hold the lead for just 5:38. Southern Miss finished 24-of-48 from the floor and held Memphis to 26-of-66 (39.4 percent). The Tigers’ 10 three-pointers proved to the difference in the game.