Creighton Registers Double-Double In Victory Over SEMO

Friday, December 16

Memphis, Tenn.

7:00 PM

University of Memphis

4-6

Southeast Missouri

5-7

Southeast Missouri

Memphis

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Creighton Registers Double-Double In Victory Over SEMO

Dec 16, 2016 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Cheyenne Creighton led Memphis with 20 points and 10 rebounds for her second-straight double-double

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – A second-straight double-double by Cheyenne Creighton as well as double-digit scoring by Taylor Williams and Brea Elmore led the University of Memphis women's basketball team to a 65-63 victory over Southeast Missouri Friday evening. The Tigers improve to 4-6 on the year with the win and 3-2 at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse.

How It Happened
The first quarter of action stayed relatively balanced between the two squads as neither team had a lead larger than three until under three and a half minutes on the clock. A free throw by Brea Elmore followed up by a lay-up by Cheyenne Creighton built the Tiger lead up to six with over two to play before the first break of the game.

Back-to-back jumpers by Taylor Williams in the heart of the second quarter put Memphis up nine over the visiting Redhawks. Southeast Missouri hung with the Tigers, however, and cut the Memphis lead to five at halftime.

The Redhawks continued to keep Memphis within reach throughout the third period. Within the first minute of the third quarter, Southeast Missouri cut the Tiger lead down to two after a pair of free throws by Bri Mitchell. A lay-up by Elmore combined with a three-pointer by Taylor Williams after the Redhawk run put the Tigers back up seven with 8:05 left in the third.

Another Southeast Missouri run near the end of the third presented the third tie of the ballgame at 43-all. The remainder of the game was neck-and-neck between the two teams as there would be two more ties including one with 2:26 to play in the game.

A jumper by Williams with 1:58 to play put Memphis up for good and a jumper by Elmore a minute and a half later helped seal the victory for Memphis.

Turning Point
Even though Southeast Missouri never had the lead after the five-minute mark in the first quarter, the game was a back-and-forth battle until the end. Fouls to give at the end of the game for Southeast Missouri kept Memphis from going to the free throw line and therefore the Tigers were able to burn time off of the clock. The jumper by Brea Elmore with 23 seconds remaining to put Memphis up four made the game all but out of reach for Southeast Missouri due to the fouls the Redhawks had to give.

Notables

Cheyenne Creighton finished with her second career double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds. She also recorded two blocks for the Tigers.
Taylor Williams continued to play well at home, scoring 14 points for Memphis. She is averaging a team-high 15.8 points per game at home.
Brea Elmore also scored in double figures for Memphis. She ended the night with 12 points and three assists.
Memphis committed just five turnovers in the first half, the lowest total in any first half this season.
The 21 offensive rebounds by Memphis was a season-high. The Tigers finished the game outrebounding Southeast Missouri, 38-25.
With the large number of offensive rebounds, Memphis outscored Southeast Missouri 22 to 9 in second chance points.
Brianna Porter finished with a career-high eight rebounds, six of which were offensive. She also recorded a steal and a block for the Tigers.

Quotable – Melissa McFerrin, Head Coach
"I thought that the players, this evening, did a great job of operating on the scout. Nitra (Perry) had the scout tonight and I've told the players the last couple of days that our coaches have been spot on with their scouts. Nitra certainly was tonight and the players executed."

"We made some plays down the stretch, which this team hasn't quite done yet this year. That's a really great growth point for us today. I also thought that our post players really took it to heart that we needed to get on the glass."

Next Up For The Tigers
The Tigers remain at home to take on Louisiana Tech Monday, Dec. 19. Tip-off at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse is scheduled for 7 p.m. For more information on the Memphis women's basketball team, follow the Tigers on Twitter at @MemphisWBB or go online to www.gotigersgo.com.