Dec. 31, 2003

MEMPHIS, TENN. - The Lady Tigers will take to the road for their third of four straight road contests when they travel to Fayetteville, Ark., to take on the Arkansas Lady Razorbacks on Friday at 7 p.m. Memphis is going for a perfect 3-0 record over Arkansas universities as they have beaten UALR and UAPB earlier this year.

Memphis enters the meeting with a 9-2 record after a second-place showing in the University of Montana Holiday tournament last weekend. Memphis defeated Idaho in the first round, but fell to host Montana in the championship game. Freshman Devin Necaise came off the bench and helped lead the Lady Tigers to victory against the Vandals with a career high 17 points. Junior Raven Rogers, who leads Memphis in rebounding with 7.3 boards a game, entered the starting lineup for the first time against Idaho and recorded her first career double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds.

Junior Victoria Crawford, who has not started a single game this season, leads Memphis in scoring with an average of 13.5 points per game. She is also second on the squad in rebounding with 5.2 boards per contest. Crawford has scored in double digits in eight games this season, including the last four straight contests. Sophomore Tamika Butler is the only other Lady Tiger averaging in double figures in scoring with 10.9 points per game. She also leads the squad in assists with 50, and in steals with 21.

The Lady Razorbacks are also 9-2 on the year after picking up a 20-point win over McNeese State in Fayetteville this past Tuesday evening. Two Lady'Backs scored 20 or more points in the win as Shemeka Christon paced her team with 24 points off a 10-of-15 effort from the field. Ruby Vaden recorded her third career double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds against the Cowgirls. Vaden was 9-of-10 from the field and also blocked two shots.

Christon is Arkansas' leading scorer and rebounder with averages of 23.2 and 9.6, respectively. A 44-percent shooter from the field, Christon also totals a team-leading 14 blocked shots. Vaden, who also totals 14 blocked shots, averages 12.1 points per game. The Lady Razorbacks' two losses have come on the road to Loyola Marymount (64-58) and then-21st ranked TCU (67-62) in overtime.

The Lady Tigers own an 8-5 series advantage over Arkansas, dating back to the 1978-79 season. The Lady'Backs have won the last two meetings, including a 78-64 victory over the Tigers last season at the Fieldhouse. The Lady Tigers are just 1-4 over the Razorbacks in games played in Fayetteville. That lone victory was a 71-65 decision during the 1979-80 season.

The Lady Tigers will close out their four-game road slate on Jan. 5 when they travel to Nashville to face Lipscomb. This will also be their last non-conference opponent of the season. Memphis returns home on Jan. 9 to open Conference USA league play with a matchup against Houston at 7 p.m. The Lady Tigers will welcome TCU to the Fieldhouse on Jan. 11 at 3 p.m.