Nov. 18, 2008
Box Score
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - -
Complete Box Score in PDF Format 
The University of Memphis women's basketball team (2-1) got double-doubles from senior Ashley Thornton and sophomore center Savannah Ellis in a 67-60 victory over Louisiana Tech (1-1) at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse, Tuesday night. Thornton finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds for her third consecutive double-double in as many game, while Ellis finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds for her first career double-double.
"Thornton was very disciplined," Head Coach Melissa McFerrin said. "Ashley did
a great job today. She was our heart tonight. We talked about that in the locker room. She was not going to go down tonight. That is a tough match up. They have a good player, but Ashley was not going to go home without a win tonight. "
In a first half that saw four ties and three lead changes, Memphis had gone up by as many as eight at 25-17 with 2:37 to play before Louisiana Tech went on a 12-2 run powered by three three-point field goals from three different players to go into the locker room up 28-27 over Memphis.
The second half had an ominous beginning as the Tigers turned the ball over on their first possession, which quickly went back the other way for a Adrienne Johnson jumper. Memphis then had a shot blocked and missed a jumper and a layup before Ramses Lonlack drove across the entire perimeter of the court, slashed baseline and found a wide-open Shae Seagraves waiting behind the three-point line. Seagraves hit her only shot of the night to tie the game at 30-30 with 17:04 to play, tying the game for the fifth time. Lonlack then stole another pass, feeding a running Ashley Thornton who converted the layup and gave Memphis a lead it would not relinquish for the remainder of the game.
But the Lady Techsters were not done. With Memphis up by four at 37-33, LaTech began a 6-2 run that would knot the game again at 39 all with 11:24 to play. But Thornton got loose for a bucket and one before Whitney Jones answered with a layup of her own. But Ellis converted a layup and Ramses Lonlack found Alex Winchell for her four assist and for Winchell's first points of the second half, as Winchell knocked down a three to push Memphis back ahead 47-41 with 10:16 to play.
The Tigers would stretch the lead back out to double-digits off three straight layups before Shanavia Dowdell hit a free throw and a layup to cut it back to single digits at 55-46 with 7:13 to play.
Memphis would again answer with a triple, this one from Paris Leonard, to go back out to double-digits, but Dowdell drew another foul, hitting both free-throws, to cut it to 58-50 with 5:14 to play. From there, Memphis went through a four minute scoring drought from the field, but Memphis went 7-for-11 from the free-throw line in the last 4:07 of the game to sneak out with the win, 67-60.
Thornton and Winchell led Memphis with 14 points apiece, with both Leonard and Ellis adding 11 points each in the win. The 14 points is a career high for Winchell. Ellis led Memphis with 11 rebounds for her first career double-double, while Thornton had 10 rebounds in her third straight double-double of the season. Lonlack led the team with four assists, adding three steals and six points, while Goldsmith added six rebounds in 26 minutes of play.
"I thought Alex Winchell and Savannah Ellis were absolutely awesome off the bench tonight," McFerrin said. "Alex ran our team, she handled the ball, and she shot late free throws. Savannah did a great job at finishing in the paint and rebounding the basketball. We talked in the locker room, and as the week has gone by, about the quality of the teams that has gotten better with every game. We felt that Louisiana Tech was the best team that we've played to date. We were very disappointed in our play at Belmont and we felt like we gave away a game to a team that we had an opportunity to beat. So, we were vey determined to play well tonight."
Shanavia Dowdell led Louisiana Tech with a double-double of her own, finishing with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Whitney Jones just missed a double-double with 14 points and eight rebounds, including six off the offensive glass. Sidney Stewart came off the bench to lead the Lady Techsters with five assists in the loss.
Memphis will head back out on the road for its next game, playing at Ole Miss, Friday, at 6 p.m. Louisiana Tech also remains on the road, facing Tennessee in Knoxville on Sunday.
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