Tigers fall to Illini, 62-54

By Adam Douglas

Sports Reporter

Joe Murphy

Junior forward Nicole Dickson contributed 11 rebounds and 10 points, nine of which came from three-point goals, in the Tigers’ loss to Illinois on Tuesday.

 

After winning their first two games of the season, The University of Memphis women's basketball team (2-1) seemed poised to win another one. Instead, they came up eight points short against the Fighting Illini of Illinois, 62-54 on Tuesday.

"We got beat by emotions," head coach Melissa McFerrin said in a press release. "We got beat by our own emotions; our own negative emotions got us."

Memphis battled through a tough first half where the Tigers were outrebounded 28-23. But Memphis stayed close, down 30-29 after Illinois went 5-for-14 from the free-throw line and effectively opened the door for a Tiger comeback in the second half. The U of M took a five-point advantage with 15:05 left to play, but Illinois answered with a run sparked by three straight offensive rebounds and cut the Memphis lead to 38-37 with 12:17 to go. Memphis was then blocked twice, and gave up two defensive rebounds when Lana Rukavina hit a layup with 11:33 to play to push the Illini back in front.

Memphis would knot the score at 47 with 7:30 to play when Nicole Dickson knocked down her third three-point field goal of the night. A steal by guard Brittany Carter led to a quick layup by Ramses Lonlack that put the Tigers back up, 49-47, with 6:33 to play.

But fouls and turnovers would begin to add up for the Tigers.

The Tigers committed three straight turnovers in just over a minute, with Lonlack, Carter and Lee all losing possession.

Illinois took advantage of the Tigers missteps, draining a jumper with 1:14 to go that started a 5-0 run to close out the game. Memphis was outrebounded 52-49 in the game. Neither team shot above 40 percent for the game.

Jasmine Lee and Nicole Dickson each finished with a double-double. Lee finished with 13 points and 12 rebounds, while Dickson finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Carter added 13 points before fouling out of the game, and Lonlack finished with 10 points.

The Tigers return home for a five game home stand on Saturday beginning with a game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Tipoff is 2 p.m at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse.