Memphis women’s basketball put together one of its strongest offensive performances of the season but came up short in a 90–81 loss to South Florida on Saturday afternoon at Elma Roane Fieldhouse.
The Tigers moved to 7–10 overall and 1–3 in American Athletic Conference play after scoring their second-highest point total of the year. However, Memphis struggled defensively, allowing a season-high 90 points as the Bulls shot 50 percent from the floor and 41.7 percent from beyond the arc.
Junior guard Daejah Richmond once again led the way for the Tigers, finishing with 24 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. Richmond was nearly unstoppable in the first half, scoring 15 points while shooting a perfect 6-for-6 from the field.
The game opened as a defensive battle, with just 26 total points scored in the first quarter. Memphis briefly grabbed momentum late in the second quarter, taking a 32–29 lead with just over a minute remaining. South Florida responded, scoring on five of its final seven possessions to close the half with a 35–31 advantage.
South Florida steadily built its lead after halftime, opening the third quarter with a 7–0 run and outscoring Memphis 24–16 in the period. Tamya Smith and Amauri Williams combined for 11 points in the quarter, helping the Tigers stay within reach, but the Bulls’ dominance in the paint proved difficult to overcome.
Memphis delivered an impressive offensive surge in the fourth quarter, tying its program record with 33 points in the final frame. Despite the late push, the Tigers were unable to string together enough defensive stops to cut the deficit to fewer than nine points. South Florida placed five players in double figures, marking the first time this season Memphis has allowed that feat. Katie Davidson led all scorers for the Bulls with a season-high 20 points.
Chaé Harris added 13 points for Memphis, connecting on multiple three-pointers for the sixth time this season, while Paris Gaines contributed eight points and eight rebounds.
The Tigers will look to bounce back on the road as they travel to Denton to take on North Texas on Tuesday, January 13, at 6:30 p.m. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+. Our coverage of today’s game sponsored by Esco Memphis.
