Memphis Tigers women outlast Ball State in second round of NIT

A 20-0 start to the game made all the difference, with the Tigers never trailing.

The Lady Tigers and the Ball State Cardinals squared off in the second round of the NIT in front of a packed Elma Roane Fieldhouse.

Both teams hosted their first-round matchups, but the path to victory contrasted heavily between the two. The Tigers had a defensive approach against Jackson State, holding them to 38% from the field and 16% from behind the arc. Ball Sate, on the other hand, blitzed the Belmont Bruins with their potent offense – surpassing the century mark in a 101-86 win.

Going into tonight’s contest, a battle featuring two different styles of play was imminent.

Jamirah Shutes opened the game with a three-point jumper, followed shortly after by an Emani Jefferson driving layup. The Tigers would not stop there, rattling off an incredible 20-0 run to start the game.

Ball State was not going to go end their season without going on a run of their own. The second quarter belonged to the Cardinals who trusted their game plan which revolved heavily on the three-point line. Ball State was unbothered by the scorching Tigers in the opening period, as they continued to pack the paint with a zone look. Offensively, their own absence of the three-ball did not last; the Cardinals got open looks and capitalized, shooting 6-9 in the second quarter. The Tigers defense suffered from a lack of communication on the Cardinals’ screens.

 Memphis had quite a few close shots and layups rattle out, which made the dominating effort on the glass from Destiny Thomas and Hannah Riddick even more significant. The duo combined for 16 rebounds.

The physicality and intensity ramped up as the game ticked on, coinciding with a very loud Elma Roane Fieldhouse. The Tigers fed off the energy, slowed the game down and ramped up the defensive intensity – holding Ball State to nine points in the quarter. The separation in the fourth was enough for the Tigers to pull away, winning 79-62.

The Tigers will play Bowling Green in the Super 16 after their road win over Green Bay.