Memphis falls to Bowling Green 73-60 in the WNIT

Memphis falls to Bowling Green, 73-60 in the Super 16, concluding a turnaround season. Memphis’ offense was stifled by the veteran Falcons, who used hot 3 point shooting and physical defense to secure the win. 

Memphis struggled mightily against the pesky Falcon defense in the first quarter, scoring 12 of their first 14 points from the foul stripe. The offense never found a consistent rhythm in the first half. In the first 3 quarters, the Tigers would only score 31 points. 

Although the Tigers dominated on the glass early on, Falcon forward Allison Day turned around the physicality. She scored 10 pts and had 4 boards against a stringent Tiger defense in the first half. Memphis kept the lead to one possession through the first quarter, but the shots just were not falling.

Memphis was a combined 5-27, (18.5%) from the field at the half, down by 7, 23-30. The Tiger’s defense allowed them to keep the lead within double digits and hopefully go on a run of baskets to get them back in the game. 

The second half opened with bad becoming worse for the Tigers, as the Falcons went on their largest run of the game. Bowling Green guards, Alissa Brett and Jocelyn Tate both got going in the second half combining for 23 points in the 3rd, and the Falcons opened up a 28-point lead. Memphis was outscored 28-8 in the 3rd quarter, which opened up a lead that the Tigers would never recover from. They would extend the lead to 30 in the 4th quarter before a late run by Memphis.

The Tigers opened up the fourth quarter with a determined effort. They finally got a rhythm on the offensive end and outscored Bowling Green 29-15. They trimmed the lead to 13, but it was too little, too late. The Falcons advance to the Great 8 where they will play the winner of Clemson/Florida.

Jamirah Shutes would finish the game as the Tigers leading scorer with 13 pts and 4 rebounds. Madison Griggs and Hannah Riddick both had 12 points, with no other Tigers scoring double-digits. Destiny Thomas was a force on the glass, finishing as the games leading rebounder with 11.

The Tigers finish the season 22-11, with an 11-4 record in the AAC, and a 10-2 record in the last 12 games.