Dec. 2, 2008

Complete Game Notes in PDF Format

The University of Memphis will put its three-game winning streak on the line Wednesday night by hosting SEC foe Arkansas, at 7:05 p.m. at FedExForum.

This will be the 19th meeting between the Tigers and the Razorbacks, but the first-ever meeting played between the two teams at FedExForum and the first with the Tigers under the reins of new coach Melissa McFerrin. Arkansas leads the overall series 10-8, and is carrying a seven-game winning streak against the Tigers into Wednesday night's game. The Tigers last defeated the Razorbacks in 2000-2001, 66-58, in Memphis, and two of the next three games between the two schools were decided by a total of 10 points. The last three meetings have not been as close, with the Razorbacks prevailing by an average 29 point margin, including last year's 25 point Arkansas win in Fayetteville, 91-66.

Memphis has relied on team efforts to put together Conference USA's longest current winning streak. Senior guard Paris Leonard was named the C-USA Player of the Week after averaging 19.0 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.0 steals per game last week. The Memphis native passed the 1,000-career point mark in the championship game against Stephen F. Austin Saturday night, becoming the 19th Tiger to score a grand or more while playing for the women's basketball program.

Fellow senior Ashley Thornton was also named to the all-tournament team, and is averaging close to a double-double with 11.7 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. Freshman Ramses Lonlack, the C-USA Rookie of the Week this week, is also averaging double-digit scoring, with 10.1 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. Lonlack is also second on the team with 21 steals and is tied for second with 12 assists on the season. Sophomore center Savannah Ellis stepped in to the starting line-up in the Ohio game, and averaged 9.3 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 5.3 points to help Memphis remain undefeated at home. Fellow sophomore Alex Winchell also contributed to the 3-0 week, averaging 7.3 points and 3.0 assists per game, while playing an average 33 minutes per night.

About Arkansas
Arkansas is 5-1 on the season and is adjusting to six newcomers to join the six returnees on the roster from last year. Three Razorbacks average double-digit scoring, with a fourth close to the double-digit mark. Freshman guard Ceira Ricketts leads the team in scoring with 13.5 points per game. She also leads the team with 23 steals through six games and is third on the squad with 5.8 rebounds a night. Fellow backcourt freshman Lyndsay Harris is second on the squad in scoring, with 11.0 ppg and leads the team with 11 three-point field goals made. Senior Ayana Brereton is one of two seniors back on the Razorback roster, and is averaging 10.5 points and 6.5 rebounds a night from a guard spot. Brereton has also knocked down 10 triples on the season and is tied for second on the team with 15 assists. The other senior, post player Whitney Jones, is close to the double-digit scoring mark, averaging 9.7 points and 6.5 rebounds a night. Jones also leads the team with 12 blocked shots. Sophomore guard Shanita Arnold leads the offense with 17 assists on the season, and is another double-digit three-point shooter (10) for head coach Tom Cullen this season.

Cullen is in his second season at Arkansas, after heading the program at Louisville from 2003-2007. He also coached for five seasons at Colorado State, from 1997-2002, when he took the Rams to the Sweet 16 in 1999, helping him earn National Coach of the Year honors.

Arkansas opened the season with four straight wins (UL Monroe, High Point, SMU and Northwestern University) before falling to Oregon State, 69-56, at the Buckaroo Jam in the Bahamas over the Thanksgiving break. The team quickly bounced back from the loss with a 78-61 victory over Pacific in the consolation game of the tournament.

Tigers Putting Home Winning Streak on the Line
Memphis has gotten off to a quick 5-0 start at home in the month of November. The Tigers are hoping the change of calendar and the change of venue does not break that streak, as the team will play Arkansas at FedExForum Wednesday night. Memphis was 0-2 at FEF last season and is 0-5 in the NBA facility in the program's history.

Memphis lost its last game at FedExForum 71-68 in overtime to Toledo.

5-0 at Home, Part II
Memphis remains perfect at home with a 5-0 mark following Saturday night's win. The last time Memphis started out 5-0 at home was 1994-95, when the team actually opened the season with a 9-0 mark at home before falling to Marquette 87-84 on Feb. 17th.

Leonard Named C-USA Player of the Week
Paris Leonard was named the Conference USA Player of the Week following the Tigers' 3-0 week last week. Leonard, the Thanksgiving tournament MVP, averaged 19.0 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.0 steals per game last week. She stole a ball and drove the length of the court for a layup, not only pushing Memphis in front for good at 41-39, but also scoring her 1,000th career point.

Leonard is the first Tiger since Princess Swilley on Jan. 27, 2003, to earn C-USA Player of the Week honors. Her only other C-USA Award came in her freshman season when she was voted the league's sixth player of the year.

Lonlack Named C-USA Rookie of the Week
Freshman guard Ramses Lonlack has been a member of the team's starting line-up since the beginning of the season. After averaging 13.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.0 steals per game last week, Lonlack was named the C-USA Rookie of the Week by the league office on Monday.

Lonlack had a career-high 18 points in the win over Ohio, and was 3-for-4 from the free-throw line down the stretch to not only break a 69-69 tie, but to score all of Memphis' final three points to secure the 72-69 victory.

Leonard Passes 1,000 Point Mark
With her 21-point effort against Stephen F. Austin on Saturday night, Paris Leonard became the 19th Tiger to score 1,000 career points. She currently ranks 18th in all-time scoring at Memphis with 1,002 points and was named the tournament MVP on Saturday night. The 21-point effort was also Leonard's 50th career double-digit scoring effort.

Tigers Win 18th Tournament Title
With the wins over Wichita State and Stephen F. Austin, the Tigers won their 18 tournament title, after making their 19th tournament championship appearance. Memphis improved to 38-6 all-time in the tournament.

Winchell Has Career Scoring Night Against Wichita State
Sophomore point guard Alex Winchell had a career-high 16 points in the win over Wichita State Friday night. All of Winchell's field goals came from three-point range, as she tied a career-high with four triples on the night. She also added a 4-for-4 effort from the free-throw line in the win.

Ellis Leads Rebounding Effort Against Hometown Team
Sophomore center Savannah Ellis made her second career start against a team based in her hometown of Wichita, Kan. The Wichita Heights graduate responded with a career-high 14 rebounds and could have had her second career double-double, but struggled with a 1-for-7 night from the field. But Ellis didn't allow her lack of offense to slow down her defense, as she added three blocked shots and two steals in 30 minutes of play.

About Our Opponents:
Here is a look at how our past and upcoming opponents have fared as of late:

Northern Arizona (1-6): Lost to North Dakota, 94-71; plays Hawaii, Saturday.
Belmont (3-2): Downed Alcorn State, 77-65; opens league play at Jacksonville, Thursday.
Louisiana Tech (1-2): Fell at Tennessee, 94-59; hosts Nicholls State, Wednesday.
Ole Miss (6-0): Defeated Nicholls State, 83-32; plays Southeastern Louisiana, Thursday morning at 11 a.m.
Ohio (1-4): Came just short up defeating Fordham, 55-51; plays at Presbyterian, Thursday.
Wichita State (4-2): Picked up its first neutral site win since 2004 with a 65-45 win over Jacksonville State; hosts Appalachian State, Dec. 8th.
Stephen F. Austin (4-2): Fell to the Tigers, 64-52; hosts No. 5 Texas A&M, Tuesday.
Arkansas (5-1): Bounced back from season's first loss with a 78-61 win over Pacific; plays at Memphis, Wednesday.
South Alabama (5-1): Bounced back from first loss of season with a 65-61 win over Liberty; hosts Houston Baptist, Tuesday night.
Mississippi State (4-0): Ran over UL Lafayette, 71-38; hosts Louisiana Tech, Wednesday.
UT Arlington (2-3): Lost 70-65 at Morehead State; plays at Marshall, Tuesday.
Georgia Tech (5-2): Lost to Texas, but beat Tennessee Tech, 68-56; hosts Michigan State, Wednesday in ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
Winthrop (2-3): Lost at No. 25 Xavier, 66-43, but beat UT Martin, 54-49; hosts George Mason, Sunday,
Tennessee Tech (1-5): Lost to Georgia Tech, 68-56; plays at Georgia, Wednesday.
UAB (2-4): Got back in the win column with a 56-53 victory over McNeese State; hosts Florida, Wednesday.
UCF (1-5): Continues a difficult pre-season schedule at Alabama, Wednesday after losing to Villanova, 68-50 Saturday.
Southern Miss (3-3): Lost to Michigan in the championship game of their home tournament, 61-51; plays at UALR, Wednesday.
Rice (3-2): Fell at UALR, 56-53; hosts UT Arlington, Saturday.
Houston (3-1): Won at Miami (Fla.), 70-64; plays at North Texas, Tuesday.
East Carolina (4-2): Lost to North Carolina A&T, 72-53, plays at Virginia, Saturday.
Marshall (4-1): Defeated Morehead State, 56-51; hosts UT Arlington Tuesday.
UTEP (3-4): Defeated Eastern New Mexico, 87-44; plays at New Mexico State, Sunday.
Tulane (3-3): Won at UL Monroe, 62-60; plays Jackson State, Friday.
SMU (1-4): Fell to Charlotte 76-74 on a buzzer-beater; hosts Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Tuesday.
Tulsa (2-3): Lost to Marist, 73-53; plays at UMKC, Wednesday.