by Don Mooney 2-8-2025
Senior point guard DeeDee Hagemann’s 13-pts leads fast break against FAU. photo by Don Mooney
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Another tale of two halves as Lady Tigers outscored Florida Atlantic (FAU) 44-31 to cruise to a 73-60 victory over the Owls Saturday afternoon inside Elma Roane Fieldhouse. The Tigers (6-16, 4-7 AAC) hit 12 three-pointers – second-most this season – propelled by eight from the bench unit (five from Liz Martino, three from Elauna Eaton. DeeDee Hagermann added a game high 13 points, nine assists and three steals, and Tamya Smith also made a major contribution with a career-high nine rebounds and six points.
Tilly Boler fires off jumper over FAU defenders. photo by Don Mooney
Tilly Boler hit two threes early in the opening quarter to give Memphis a lead, but the Tigers endured a four-minute scoring drought as Florida Atlantic crept ahead. After missing seven consecutive field goal attempts, Eaton broke the ice with a three-ball before a Hagemann and-one layup gave Memphis a 16-14 advantage after 10 minutes.
The second quarter began with back-to-back threes from the Tigers to increase their lead to eight, 22-14, causing the Owls to call a timeout with 7:55 left in the quarter. Out of the timeout, the Owls got their first bucket of the quarter off a 3-pointer from Maria Myklebust, her first points of the afternoon. Myklebust’s three sparked a 14-4 run, including making five of their last five field goals, to give the Owls the lead at 29-28. After an Owls foul, the Tigers went one for two at the line, tying the game at 29 going into the halftime break.
Fifth-year senior Alasia Smith gets past FAU defense. photo by Don Mooney
The Owls struck first to begin the second half with a Stefanie Ingram three, regaining the lead, 32-29. The Tigers quickly responded, but an Ingram and one extended the Owls run to 6-2 to open the half. Myklebust later hit her second 3-pointer of the game, keeping the Owls advantage at four, 40-36, with 6:02 to go in the third. Memphis then went on a 6-0 run of their own, causing the Owls to call timeout as the Tigers held a 42-40 advantage at the third quarter media break. Out of the timeout, the Memphis run grew to 9-0 before Perry connecting on her second triple of the night, ending the Tigers run. The two teams exchange baskets to end the quarter with the Tigers holding the slight 48-46 advantage.
Lady Tigers defense tightened in the second half adding to the victory column. photo by Don Mooney
The fourth quarter opened with Memphis connecting on back-to-back buckets before Ingram and Moore responded with back-to-back buckets for the Owls to cut the deficit to three, 53-50. Moore scored again for the Owls to keep things within five, 57-52, with 6:02 to play, but the Owls struggled to get stops late as Memphis closed the contest on a 16-8 run to take the game, 73-60.