Dec. 31, 2008

Complete Game Notes in PDF Format

Please note, the game will be broadcast on CSS (Comcast/Charter Sports Southeast) AND on CBS-C. CSS is only available on a cable provider. CBS-C is available on both satellite providers, please check your local line-up. The game will be carried live on both stations, beginning at 1 p.m. (CT).

The University of Memphis women's basketball team (7-6) will open its 2009 Conference USA schedule with a Sunday clash against travel partner UAB, at 1 p.m. (CT). This game will be televised live on Comcast/Charter Sports Southeast (CSS), which is Channel 6 on cable TV's in the Memphis area.

The Tigers are coming in to the conference slate with a 7-6 overall record, the program's first winning record following the non-league schedule since 2004-05 after a 63-61 victory at Tennessee Tech Tuesday night.

Memphis trailed the entire game except the final 2.9 seconds in the TTU win, as Alex Winchell connected on her fifth three-point field goal of the night with 55 seconds to play to tie the game for the first time in the second half at 61-61. TTU got a layup off, but it was rebounded by Savannah Ellis, who finished with nine boards on the night. Memphis got the ball across half court and called timeout to set up a game-winning play with 13 seconds remaining.

Tehani Goldsmith got the ball and drove hard off the right wing, drawing contact from Jasmine White on the drive and earning a trip to the free-throw line. Goldsmith hit the first free-throw, forcing TTU to call timeout, then stepped to the line to hit the second shot to make it 63-61 in the Tigers' favor. TTU got a long three-point attempt off, but it veered left, bouncing off the backboard to preserve a Tiger victory, the team's first true road win of the season and the first Memphis non-conference road win since then-freshman Paris Leonard hit a game-winner with the clock winding down in a 76-74 win at Lipscomb on Nov. 29th of 2005. Leonard is now one of three Tiger seniors on the squad and is closing in the top 15 in the school career scoring record book.

This is the 39th meeting between Memphis and UAB and the Tigers lead the all-time series 24-14. But UAB has held the advantage lately in the series, winning the last six meetings between the two teams, including a 72-66 victory in FedExForum last season.

About UAB
This is the 39th meeting between Memphis and UAB. The Tigers lead the all-time series, 24-14, but have dropped the last six straight meetings with the Blazers, including a 72-66 loss at FedExForum last season.

Tigers in C-USA Openers
Memphis is 5-7 in Conference USA openers since the league's formation in 1996.

Over .500 After Non-Conference Schedule
Memphis used a road win at Tennessee Tech to improve to 7-6 on the season following the non-conference schedule. That marks the first time since the 2004-05 season that Memphis has gotten out of its non-conference slate with a record over .500. The 2004-05 squad was also 7-6 following the first 13 games.

Rare Non-Conference Road Win
The win at Tennessee Tech was a rare one for a lot of reasons. Memphis trailed the overall series to TTU 15-5 heading in to the game and was just 1-4 in games played at Cookeville. The 63-61 victory was Memphis' first non-conference road win since 2005 when then-freshman Paris Leonard hit a game-winning jumper in a road victory at Lipscomb in Nashville.

We Led When it Mattered
Tennessee Tech led the Tigers for 39 minutes and five seconds on Tuesday night. But after Alex Winchell tied the game for the first time of the second half with her fifth triple of the night, the Golden Eagles found themselves tied with the Tigers with 55 seconds to play. And after Memphis grabbed a defensive rebound of a missed TTU layup, Tehani Goldsmith attacked from the wing, was stopped and bounced back wider and attacked again, drawing contact and a trip to the free-throw line. Goldsmith hit both free throws to give the Tigers the advantage and the defense forced a long halfcourt shot to preserve the victory on the road.

Winchell Ties Career High
Sophomore Alex Winchell was under the weather on the bus ride to Cookeville before the TTU game, and was still not 100 percent at shootaround and pre-game for the Tigers, but the sophomore battled through it, coming off the bench and finishing with 16 points. The 16 points tied a career high for Winchell and her five three-point field goals made was a new career high. Winchell has now connected on 18 triples this season, ranking just behind Paris Leonard's 22 threes on the season.

Doubled up In a Way You Don't Want
Memphis has been haunted by turnovers all season, ranking 12th in the league in turnovers per game (23.1/game) and nights like Tuesday night might be why. Memphis was whistled three times for illegal screens, twice for fouls while going to the goal with the ball and once for a three-second call. In all, the Tigers finished with 28 turnovers, compared to just 14 for Tennessee Tech, who similarly wanted to push tempo in the game. For the season, Memphis has 301 turnovers and has forced 259.

Conference USA, Meet Melissa McFerrin; Coach Meet Conference USA
Melissa McFerrin took over the Tiger program in April and will be squaring off against a slew of new league opponents, beginning with her first-ever meeting against UAB. McFerrin, who was the 2008 Patriot League coach of the year after guiding American University to the WNIT and a regular season title. The WNIT appearance was American's first post-season trip since 1997-98.
But McFerrin will be squaring off with a bunch of new faces and new schemes this year, having faced just one Conference USA member in her tenure at American. She guided American to a 1-0 record over Southern Miss, a team that is coached by Joye Lee-McNelis, the former Tiger head coach from 1991-2004.

Thornton Looking for 700th Career Point
Senior forward Ashley Thornton is coming in to the UAB game with 690 career points and 569 career rebounds. She needs just 10 more points for 700 for her Tiger career and 31 more rebounds for 600 for her three-year Tiger career. Thornton transferred to Memphis from Birmingham Southern following her freshman season when BSC decided to move to NCAA Division III. Thornton was a Big South All-Freshman team member at BSC.

Leonard Creeping Up On 15th All-Time
Senior guard Paris Leonard is just 91 points shy of breaking in to the career top 15 in scoring at Memphis. Leonard trails Lynn Enzweiler's mark of 1,185 points with 1,094 points heading in to the UAB game.