Nov. 14, 2014 Final Stats
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Memphis used a balanced scoring attack and a late 16-1 scoring run to seal a 79-63 victory over Missouri State Friday afternoon at Elma Roane Fieldhouse. Kenzie Williams powered the Lady Bear attack with 21 points, seven rebounds and four assists, but the Tigers' .531 (17-for-2) shooting in the second half proved to be an insurmountable obstacle for MSU (0-1).
Taylor Williams sparked the critical UM run with a four-point play moments after a Liza Fruendt 3-pointer pulled MSU to within 63-60 with just under four minutes left in regulation. Williams was fouled while connecting from 3-point range on the right wing, then completed the momentum-swinging four-pointer, before five straight points from Ariel Hearn and a Mooriah Rowser triple upped the lead to 76-61 with 1:52 to play.
MSU never recovered, missing its final five tries from the floor following Fruendt's clutch three. Rowser--who led Memphis with 21 points--combined with Taylor Williams and Hearn for 53 points on the night, including all 16 points during the Tigers' game-clinching run, while Brianna Wright posted a double-double of 11 points and 16 rebounds.
Kenzie Williams knocked down 13-of-15 free throw tires for the Lady Bears, matching the 10th-best single-game performance in school history. The senior combined with Fruendt--who chipped in 18 points off the bench in her collegiate debut--to bring MSU back from large deficits in each half.
Missouri State finished the night 19-of-54 (.352) from the field, and 21-of-29 (.724) at the stripe, while the Lady Bear defense forced 20 Tiger turnovers.
Despite a cold shooting start that saw them fall behind by as many as 14 points in the first 14 minutes of the opening half, the Lady Bears rallied to pull to within six at the break. Williams led all scorers with nine first-half points, thanks largely to a 7-of-9 showing at the foul line that keyed MSU's 15-7 scoring run over the final six minutes of the period.
A pair of MSU freshmen sparked the rally with back-to-back 3-pointers, beginning with Fruendt's long ball with 5:59 to play. Lee Ann Polowy stepped up and drained her first collegiate triple 57 seconds later to cut the UM lead to 22-14.
A jumper by Taylor Williams and a Wright free throw momentarily made it an 11-point game again, but a Hillary Chvatal bucket and five straight MSU points by Williams at the charity stripe sliced the margin to 27-21.
Memphis (1-0) gained the upper hand behind the long-distance shooting of Williams and Hearn, who combined to knock down three jumpers from beyond the arc over the first six minutes to stake the Tigers to a 15-3 advantage. The duo would connect on 4-of-8 attempts from behind the arc in the half, while Wright would chip in seven points for the home team.
Just as they did at the onset of the contest, the Tigers came out of the locker room firing in the second stanza, using an 11-2 run over the first 3:47 to stretch the lead to 15 points. MSU would claw back to within nine points over the ensuing seven minutes, cutting the lead to 48-39 on NiJay Gaines' three with 10:55 to play.
After trading baskets with the Tigers for much of the next four minutes, Audrey Holt's layup with 5:39 left on the clock made it an eight-point game and initiated a 9-2 run. After a pair of Rowser free throws, Williams jumper from the left corner sparked seven consecutive points from MSU. Fruendt scored on a layup following a Holt steal, then buried her big three with 3:51 to go.
The valiant comeback bid highlighted a strong showing by MSU's four freshmen, who scored 33 points and 12 rebounds in 90 combined minutes of playing time. Holt finished with six points and two boards, while Aubrey Buckley added five points and three rebounds and Polowy totaled four points and four caroms.
Up next, the Lady Bears head south to Little Rock for a 7 p.m. contest against UALR on Tuesday (Nov. 18).
