Tigers handle East Carolina, 83-70, win third straightJunior guard Brittany Carter scored a season-high 32 points in The U of M’s 83-70 win against East Carolina on Sunday at FedExForum. Behind junior guard Brittany Carter's season-high 32 points, The University of Memphis women's basketball team defeated the East Carolina Pirates, 83-70, at FedExForum on Sunday.
Sports Reporter
David C. Minkin
The Tigers trailed East Carolina, 8-2, in the opening minutes of the game but responded with a 21-6 run led by senior Alex Winchell and three 3-pointers that put the Tigers (17-6, 6-3 Conference USA) ahead for good against the Pirates (10-12, 4-5 C-USA).
"We got control of the boards after they jumped out on us early, and we got out in transition and took over," University of Memphis head coach Melissa McFerrin said. "And then we just rode the back of Brittany Carter."
The Tigers shot well from the floor in the first half, shooting 58.1 percent (18-for-31) from the field and hitting five of six from three. A 52-36 halftime score gave the Tigers their second-largest halftime lead this season. Sunday's game was the second straight that the Tigers held a 16-point halftime advantage.
Carter, a junior, was injured in the Tigers' first matchup with the Pirates on Jan. 9 in Greenville. She netted 20 first half points and finished with 32 for the game. Carter's 32 points were the most scored by a player in a C-USA game this season. She also finished with five rebounds and three steals in the opening half.
Despite Carter's hot hand, however, McFerrin said the Tigers let up in the second half.
"I hate to say it, but I think we kind of lost interest in the middle part of the second half," McFerrin said. "We didn't play well during that stretch, sending them to the free throw line and giving up 70 points. We don't want to be that team that gives up that many points."
Memphis was never really threatened in the second half; they kept at least an 11-point lead. Sophomore Nicole Dickson chipped in 11 second-half points off the bench.
"Everybody is healthy now, and I think that's the main reason we're playing well right now," junior forward Jasmine Lee said. "This was basically a Brittany Carter run that led us to the victory."
Lee scored 14 points and grabbed five rebounds against one of the best low post centers in Conference USA in Jean Best. Dickson finished with 13 points and eight rebounds off the bench.
Although the score might not have indicated a gritty contest, both teams combined for 45 personal fouls. East Carolina's Crystal Wilson was assessed a technical foul late in the first half, and four ECU players had at least four fouls.
The U of M improved to 3-0 in games played at FedExForum. They travel to Tulsa for a makeup game Tuesday that was postponed from last Thursday due to snow.
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