Feb. 23, 2006
Against Houston (9-16, 6-8 C-USA)
Memphis will wrap up its regular season against a pair of West Division foes, starting with a Friday contest against Houston. Memphis leads the overall series with Houston, 11-5, but has lost four of the last five meetings with the Cougars, including a 74-45 game in Houston last season. Houston won its last game in Memphis, 58-55, in 2003-04 and has not lost a game in Memphis since 2000-01 when Memphis on the one meeting of the three between the two programs, 83-71.
Houston is looking to snap a five-game losing streak, it's longest skid in six years. The Cougars have been led by the trio of freshmen Nakazi Glover and Sha'Ratta Hawkins and transfer Tye Jackson over the last five games. That trio has scored 85 of Houston's 103 field goals in that stretch.
Seniors Getting Ready For Last Home Weekend
This weekend's two home games will mark the last appearances in the Elma Roane Fieldhouse for seniors Jamie Bradley and Tamika Butler. Bradley, a junior college transfer, is in her second season as a Lady Tiger and became just the second Lady Tiger in six years to post 30 or more blocks in a season.
Tamika Butler started the season as the team's only returning starter and four-year senior. She responded with her best season from the point. She has a career-best 106 assists and has moved up to fifth on the career assist list with 365. She also ranks fourth with 127 career three-point field goals made.
Memphis 10 Threes Shy of New Record
This year's version of the Lady Tigers has already hit 136 threes, already the third-best single-season mark in school history. Memphis needs to hit just 10 more threes to set a new single season school record. The current record is 145, set by the 1995-96 Lady Tiger team. Memphis has already set a new school record for threes attempted in a season, with 427. The old record was 426, also by the 1995-96 team.
Howard Averaging Double-Digits Over Last Four Games
Junior guard Ashley Howard has led Memphis in rebounding in 17 games, but over the last four games, has stepped up her scoring, driving when teams try to pack the zone to push Memphis out to the perimeter. In the last four games, Howard is averaging 10.5 ppg. She is also averaging 8.5 rebounds per game over the last four heading into Friday's game.
Memphis Looking For Back-to-Back Home Wins
In the Lady Tigers' last game at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse, the team snapped a 12-game losing streak with a 71-66 win over UTEP. Memphis is hoping that some of that Lady Tiger good karma is still hanging around the Fieldhouse with two more home games on this weekend's slate. Memphis is 1-5 in league games at home so far this year.
Bradley Hits 30 Block Mark
Senior Jamie Bradley became just the second Lady Tiger in six seasons to hit the 30-block mark with a block at UCF, Sunday. The only other Lady Tiger to have 30 blocks in a season in the last six years was Raven Rogers in 2003-04. In her senior season, Rogers only had 14 blocks.
Necaise Adds Another 20+ Point Night
Junior guard Devin Necaise added another 20+ point outing, finishing with 28 points in the loss at UCF. Necaise added 22 of her 28 points in the second half. She has now scored 20 or more points in five games and has hit double-digit points in 17 of Memphis' 25 games. She is likely in line to be the next Lady Tiger to the 1,000 career point mark as she has 693 points and should hit the 1,000 mark sometime next season as a senior.
Mark Your Calendars!
All Lady Tiger basketball alumni will receive free admission to Sunday's game against pre-season favorite Rice. That game tips at 2 p.m. and will be Senior Day for Tamika Butler and Jamie Bradley.
