Nov. 29, 2008

Box Score

Complete Box Score in PDF Format

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - - Senior Paris Leonard stole a Stephen F. Austin pass and took it the length of the court to put Memphis up 41-39 with 14 minutes remaining in the second half in the championship game of the 24th Annual Piggly Wiggly Classic. Memphis would never relinquish that lead, as Leonard's bucket, which also marked her 1,000th career point, was two of her 10 second half points that helped Memphis overcome a 28-25 halftime deficit and win their third game of the week, 64-52, and their 18th Thanksgiving Classic tournament title.

SFA came out quick to start the game, sprinting to a 9-0 lead off six Memphis turnovers, which included a five second calls on an in-bounds plays and a five-second closely guarded defensive play for the Ladyjacks.

Memphis got a little more organized against the Ladyjack press, pulling to 9-6, but the Ladyjack defense antagonized the Memphis shooters, holding the Tigers to just 15.8 percent from the floor through the first 13 minutes of the game, while building a 20-12 lead on the strength of 10 points off turnovers. The game remained jagged for the remainder of the half, with SFA being whistled for 10 fouls by the 5:16 mark, allowing Memphis to convert 6-of-8 free-throw attempts to continue putting points on the board with the clock stopped.

Allowing the Tigers to remain just single digits down proved costly to the Ladyjacks late in the first half when both starting guards Tammara Marion and Cambria Smith picked up their third respective fouls. With the Tigers down 27-18 with 2:27 to play, Paris Leonard bounced back after being poked in the eye on a non-called contact with an SFA player and scored five straight points to wake up the Memphis crowd and to pull Memphis to 27-23 down with 1:22 to play. Freshman Ramses Lonlack, whose re-entry in to the game helped turn up the Memphis defensive intensity to start the run, capped the 7-0 run with a pair of free-throws. But SFA converted a free-throw off a Leonard whistled foul to hit the dressing room up 28-25.

A pair of Tiger layups out of the locker room put Memphis in front, but SFA quickly answered back and the two traded leads six times before Leonard's steal and milestone bucket put Memphis in front. From there, the Tigers embarked on a 16-3 run that pushed the Memphis lead to 57-45 with 5:27 to play following a layup from Lonlack.

SFA quickly knocked down a pair of threes to trim the deficit back to single digits, 57-48 with 3:57 to play, but senior center Jessica Jackson answered with two straight buckets to build the lead back to double-digits.

Leonard, the tournament MVP led all scorers with 21 points, adding seven rebounds and five steals in 28 minutes of play. Ashley Thornton, also named to the all-tournament team, added 11 points and nine rebounds, just missing a double-double. Ramses Lonlack added 13 points, six rebounds and a game-high six steals in 34 minutes. Sophomore center Savannah Ellis added 10 rebounds and six points and a pair of blocks.

SFA was led by Whitney Cormier, an all-tournament honoree, with 16 points and nine rebounds. Tammara Marion added 10 points and a team-high three steals, in the loss.

Memphis will leave the friendly confines of the Elma Roane Fieldhouse and will take its game downtown to FedExForum, where Memphis will host Arkansas, Dec. 3rd, at 7 p.m.

24TH ANNUAL PIGGLY WIGGLY CLASSIC ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Paris Leonard, Memphis, MVP
Ashley Thornton, Memphis
Whitney Cormier, Stephen F. Austin
Natashia Green, Stephen F. Austin
Jolie Efezokee, Jacksonville State
Marisah Henderson, Wichita