Southern Miss
Memphis
Memphis Upends Lady Eagles in OT 89-85
2/12/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 12, 2010
MEMPHIS - Taylor Mumphrey collected three-of-four free throws in overtime to lift Memphis to an 89-85 Conference USA women's basketball victory over Southern Miss here Friday night at the Elma Roane Field House.
The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for the Lady Eagles (7-16 overall, 3-7 C-USA) and ruined the homecoming of both Candace Rucker and Pauline Love.
Love, who hails from nearby Luxora, Ark., scored a career-best 30 points, while the Memphis native, Rucker, tallied 12. Tanesha Washington also collected 21 points in the cause for Southern Miss. Erin Gatling, from Van Buren, Ark., added five points.
"Each of our players did something poorly but also something spectacular here tonight," Southern Miss coach Joye Lee-McNelis said. "You just can't allow 22 offensive rebounds and give up points off turnovers and expect to win, especially on the road."
On the night, UM registered 21 second chance points and tallied 31 points off of 26 Southern Miss turnovers in the contest.
After regulation time ended at 78-78, Love hit a bucket and two free throws over the opening 1:10 of the overtime to put USM up four, but Brittany Carter, who paced Memphis with 25 points, hit consecutive field goals to tie the game.
Southern Miss then went up 84-83 on two Washington free throws with 1:52 left, but Alex Winchell, who scored 10 points, drilled a 3-pointer with 1:05 to play put UM up for good. UM added 3-of-4 free throws over the final 15.4 of the OT.
The Lady Eagles rallied from a 10-point deficit in the second half and led by as many as six points down the stretch at 77-71, but the Lady Tigers scored seven of the final eight points of regulation, but Carter's 3-point play with 30.8 seconds remaining tied the game.
The first half proved to be fast and furious as the first half featured three ties and 12 lead changes. The game ended with eight ties and 16 lead changes.
Love hit her first six shots from the floor, her last one a 25-foot, 3-pointer to give Southern Miss a 39-36 advantage with 4:09 remaining in the half.
The visiting Lady Eagles led for much of the first half on the strength of Love and Washington who tallied 17 and 14 points, respectively.
UM, though, scored the last eight points of the opening half over the final 2:32 to take a 48-41 advantage into intermission.
The Lady Eagles conclude the trip, Sunday, when they play UAB in Birmingham at Bartow Arena. Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m.
