Senior Madison Griggs notched 350th career three-pointer in win over UAB. photos by Don Mooney
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis women’s basketball team continue to roll in its final AAC regular season games as the Tigers claimed the 82-61 win over UAB Saturday afternoon. With today’s win, Memphis moves to 13-15 overall and 9-8 in AAC play.
It was all Tigers to start the game; Madison Griggs opened the game with a three-pointer from the corner for the quick 3-0 lead before she picked up a steal and laid in the easy bucket to make it a 5-0 game just 70 seconds into the contest.
The offensive onslaught for the Tigers didn’t stop there. Memphis took a lead as large as 16 when Destyne Jackson and Shelbee Brown got back-to-back steal-and-scores against the Blazers to make it a 24-8 ball game.
UAB added in two final baskets before the end of the quarter to take the 24-12 lead into the second frame. The Blazers came back swinging in the second quarter, stringing together a 17-8 run going into the media timeout to cut into the Tigers lead.
Griggs connected with Alasia Smith on a cross-court pass with 4:31 remaining on the clock to make it a 32-29 game. Memphis did not fold easily; Griggs started a 12-2 run, that was capped off with a Hannah Riddick turnaround jumper in the lane, to end the half that pushed the Tiger lead out to 44-31 heading into the halftime break.
Scoring was not an issue for the Tigers in the second half; Memphis extended its lead out to as much as 26 in the third quarter after Griggs, Smith, Brown, Jackson, Ki’Ari Cain and Ally Hollifield combined for a 16-4 run to end the frame for the 65-42 advantage. Memphis’ lead got out to as much as 27 in the final minutes of the game before the Tigers claimed the 82-61 win over the Blazers.
Madison Griggsed all scorers with 21 points on 5-7 shooting from long range while Alasia Smith, Ki’Ari Cain, Shelbee Brown and Destyne Jackson all reached double-figures. Smith notched her 10th double-double of the season with a game-high 11 rebounds while Griggs recorded her 350th career three-pointer.
Memphis will play in its final regular season game on Tuesday, March 5 when it travels to Denton to take on North Texas. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. with coverage available on ESPN+.