Dec. 1, 2011

Box Score

Memphis vs. TSU PDF Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Unselfish play and a strong-defensive effort paced Memphis in an 88-64 rout of Tennessee State on Thursday night. Brittany Carter (Covington, Ga./Newton County High School) scored a game-high 23 points and picked off a career-high six steals. Nicole Dickson (Greeneville, Tenn./Greeneville) recorded her sixth-straight double-double with 15 points and 12 boards.

Ramses Lonlack (Bertoua, Cameroon/Stoneleigh Burnham) added 17 points, Danay Collier (Bronx, NY/ John F. Kennedy) scored 12 points and Jasmine Lee (Bessemer, Ala./Jess Lanier HS) hauled in a 11 boards. Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir (Springfield, Mass./New Leadership) notched eight assists, a career-high, helping the Tigers improve to 6-1 on the season. Tennessee State fell to 3-5 with the loss.

The 88 points scored by Memphis is the second-highest total of the season and the team assisted on a season-high 24 baskets. The Tigers connected on a 33-of-63 shots (52.4 percent) and held Tennessee State to 22-of-68 (32.4 percent) shooting.

Heading into the locker rooms, Memphis held a 55-32 lead. The Tigers wasted little time in asserting their dominance, building a 15-4 lead by the first media timeout. Paced by Abdul-Qaadir's distribution of the ball off of Tennessee State turnovers, the U of M capitalized and built the lead in transition.

Abdul-Qaadir finished the first half with a seven assists. Carter, Lonlack and Dickson were the main beneficiaries of Adbul-Qaadir's handouts, scoring 15, 12 and 12 points, respectively, in the opening period. Lee finished the frame with eight boards.

The entire Memphis team was involved in the unselfish play, finishing the half with 14 assists on 20 made baskets. The Tigers shot 55.6 percent (20-of-36) from the floor, compared to 41.9 percent (13-of-31) for TSU.

The 55 first-half points by the Tigers is the most they have scored in a half this season. Carter's 23 points tied her season high, while Ann Jones' eight points also tied a career-high. Collier scored in double-digits for the second-straight game. For the first time since the Illinois contest, Lee recorded double-digit rebounds. Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir finished with a career-high eight assists, seven of them in the first half.

Tennessee State had three players score in double-digits, led by Destiney Gaston's 20 points. Jasmin Shuler chipped in 15 points and Kesi Hess scored 13 points.

Memphis is back in action this coming Sunday, December 4th, when it hosts UT Martin at 2 p.m. CT at Elma Roane Fieldhouse. Sunday's contest is the annual Teddy Bear Toss Game. Fans will receive free admission with the donation of a new, or gently used, stuffed animal. At halftime, fans will have the opportunity to toss their animals onto the court for the chance to win a prize. The bears will then be collected for donation during the holiday season.