Jan. 4, 2009

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - -

Complete Box Score in PDF Format

UAB connected on 12 three-point field goals and shot 63.6 percent from beyond the arc in the second half to come back from a halftime deficit to hand the Tigers their first loss on the Elma Roane court this season, 71-62, Sunday.

Memphis led at the half, 30-27, after trailing by as many as seven in the opening half. Memphis closed the final four minutes of the opening stanza on a 14-5 run that powered the Tigers in front 30-27.

But the locker room adjustments definitely swung the Blazers' way, as UAB came out on a 12-0 run, powered by a pair of three-point field goals from Amanda Peterson and a steal and a layup from Britney Jones to push in front 39-30. That Blazer lead would just get bigger, stretching to as many as 14 two different times before a Tehani Goldsmith layup and an Alex Winchell free throw and three-point field goal kick-started a 9-0 Tiger run that pulled Memphis within five at 53-48 with 6:40 to play. But Memphis, which had committed just four fouls in the opening half, kept sending the Blazers to the line, where UAB converted 15-of-16 attempts, all in the second half, to keep the Tigers at bay. The closest Memphis would get was a three-point deficit following a Winchell jumper, by Fatiha Salaam answered with one of her game-high six three-point field goals to give UAB enough of a cushion to stall the Memphis effort.

Salaam finished with 23 points, as did teammate Amanda Peterson. The duo combined to hit 11 of 17 attempts from beyond the arc and 7-of-8 attempts from the free-throw line. Teammate Britney Jones added 15 points, six assists and four steals in the first league win of the season for the Blazers.

Memphis was led in scoring by Ashley Thornton, who scored 10 of her 15 points in the opening half. She also added a team-high three steals and a blocked shot while battling early foul trouble in the opening minutes of the second half. Freshman guard Ramses Lonlack added her second career double-double, finishing with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Paris Leonard also added 15 points, on 7-for-16 shooting, while Alex Winchell finished with 11 points.

The Tigers will not have much time to recover, as the team will host UCF, Thursday, at 7 p.m. and pre-season favorite Southern Miss, Saturday, at 2 p.m. in the Elma Roane Fieldhouse.

NOTES
- With the loss, Memphis falls to 5-8 in C-USA openers and has a five-game winning streak on the Elma Roane Fieldhouse court snapped
- The loss also marks the first time this season the Tigers have led at the half and lost the game, making them 3-1 when leading at the break.
- Ramses Lonlack finished with her second career double-double; her first was at Mississippi State.