This afternoon, the Bearcats (7-9, 0-3 AAC) welcomed in the Memphis Tigers (9-8, 1-3 AAC) to Fifth Third Arena for an afternoon showdown. The Bearcats will look to end a four-game losing streak vs a very familiar foe as Tigers head coach, Katrina Merriweather began her coaching career as a graduate assistant for the Bearcats in 2001 after wrapping up her collegiate playing career.
Bearcats point guard Mya Jackson would enter today at 996 career points as she would look to join elite history in the 1000-point club. Michelle Clark Heard and the Bearcats would make some changes to the starting lineup and go with a smaller lineup as point guard Sofia Gritzali would make her first start of the season.
The Bearcats would strike first after A’reil Jackson got downhill and attacked early for the Bearcats. The Tigers would throw a 2-3 zone out to start, as the Tigers would look to frustrate the Bearcats early, as they forced nine turnovers from the Bearcats in the opening segment, where they led 16-12 over the Bearcats. The Bearcats would see a huge first quarter from Mya Jackson and Clarissa Craig who each contributed five points for the Bearcats. However, the Bearcats would turn the ball over nine times in the first quarter which resulted to 11 points for the Tigers, where they held a 20-14 lead over the Bearcats.
The Bearcats would cut the Tigers deficit to five, as Clarissa Craig continued to be a huge force for the Bearcats in the paint, as she led the team with nine points. Mya Jackson, would join the 1000 point club after she cut the Tigers lead to four. The Bearcats flipped the momentum in the second quarter, and it started with the defense from Sofia Gritzali, who was making it extremely difficult for the Tigers to get anything going. The Bearcats would hold the Tigers scoreless for the final 3 minutes of the second quarter as they looked to build momentum heading into halftime.
The Bearcats trailed 30-28 at the break as they were led by Clarissa Craig, continued to be a bright spot inside for the Bearcats after finishing the first half with a game high nine points. Mya Jackson would get going late in the second quarter, as the senior point guard would record seven points in the first 20 minutes. The story of the first half was the turnovers, as the Bearcats were a little sloppy with the ball as they turned the ball over 15 times, 10 of those in the first quarter.
The Tigers would come out and push the tempo to start the second half as they jumped out to a 42-36 lead over the Bearcats after knocking down four consecutive field goals. Madison Griggs started to take over for the Tigers and Coach Heard and the Bearcats would have to find a way to contain her before things got out of hand. The Bearcats would look to get Jillian Hayes involved as the Bearcat’s leading scorer was held to just four points, as the Tigers were doing a great job at taking her out of the equation.
The Bearcats would trail 53-40 heading into the fourth quarter, as they were looking to make a last second comeback here at Fifth Third Arena. The Bearcats would cut the lead to single digits, but the Tigers would look to keep their foot on the gas after Madison Griggs extended the Tigers lead back to 10. The Bearcats were forced to call a timeout as they looked to stop the Tigers run and build one of their own down the stretch.
The Tigers would be too much for the Bearcats this afternoon as they would hold on and defeat the Bearcats 78-58. The Bearcats were plagued by turnovers this afternoon as the Tigers 2-3 zone would make it hard for the Bearcats to get anything going offensively. The Tigers outscored the Bearcats 33-8 on points off turnovers and that was the difference maker in this one, as they Bearcats got sloppy, and Memphis capitalized early and never looked back.
Mya Jackson led the way with a team high 18 points, as she joined the 1000-point club in the process. Clarissa Craig played a huge role for the Bearcats in the first half as she had nine points in the first half, but the Tigers did a great job eliminating her in the second half, as she finished with just 11 points.
The Bearcats will be back in action this Wednesday when they travel to Greenville, North Carolina to take on East Carolina University at 7 pm.
