Feb. 25, 2006
Against Rice (14-12, 10-5 C-USA)
This will be the third-ever meeting between the Owls of Rice and the Lady Tigers. Memphis won the last meeting with Rice in Memphis, 62-61, in 1999-2000, and lost a road game at Rice, 70-58. The Owls competed at the Lady Tiger Thanksgiving Classic in 1999, falling to Memphis in the championship game.
Rice was the C-USA pre-season favorite to win the league title, and returns the league's pre-season C-USA Player of the Year Lauren Neaves.
Seniors Playing Last Home Game
Sunday's game against Rice will mark the final home games 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. She has 31 blocks on the 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 107 assists and has moved up to fifth on the career assist list with 366. She also ranks third with 132 career three-point field goals made.
Memphis Runs Out of Gas Against Huston
Playing with just seven players against Houston, the Lady Tigers carried their third half time lead of the season into the locker room, but could not weather the Cougars slashing perimeter players, as Houston went to the line 18 times and converted 14 tries. Memphis had two players foul out of that game, but got career nights out of a pair of Lady Tigers. Megan Gooch led all rebounder with a career-high 14 rebounds, while Gresh Gorman dished out a career-high five assists as all seven Lady Tigers scored and rebounded in the 70-62 loss.
Butler Moves to Third All-Time in Threes
Senior Tamika Butler passed Kelly Herron on the career three-point list, as she hit five threes against Houston. She is now third with 132 career threes. Memphis would have to get hot and run deep in the league championships if Butler is going to catch Kitty Allen for second all-time. Allen capped her career in 1997 with 152 threes.
Two Lady Tigers Grab Double-Digit Rebounds
For the first time this season, Memphis had two players with double-digit rebounds. Ashley Howard, battling first half foul trouble, still managed to finish with 10 rebounds, her eighth double-digit rebounding night of the year, while Megan Gooch added 14 rebounds, a career best. That double-digit rebounding performance was Gooch's third double-digit rebounding performance of the season.
Lady Tiger Alumni Get in Free, Sunday
Sunday will be Memphis' final home game and will also be Memphis' Alumni Night, where Lady Tiger basketball alumni will receive free admission.
