Last Tigers Are in New York to Battle Columbia
Following a sensational performance, the Memphis Women’s Basketball team prepares for an exciting showdown against Columbia in New York City this Wednesday.
Coming off a convincing 100-88 win over Troy, the Tigers will be looking to carry forward their momentum. The victory was marked by an impressive display of teamwork, with four players hitting double figures. Madison Griggs topped the scoring with 22 points, while Kai Carter, Alasia Smith, and Ki’Ari Cain added 53 points to the tally.
Cain, the fifth-year senior who hails from Sumter, S.C., achieved a remarkable personal milestone during the match, crossing the 1,000-career point mark. This achievement puts her in an esteemed club, making her the fourth active player on the roster to accomplish this feat, joining the ranks of Griggs, Carter, and Smith.
This season, Griggs and Carter have been a formidable offensive force for the Tigers, contributing an average of 29.8 points per game between them. On the other hand, Smith has shown prowess in her defensive game, amassing 53 rebounds in the first eight games.
On the other side of the court, Columbia is also riding a wave of victories, coming off its third consecutive win against Villanova. The thrilling 77-75 win was secured with a basket and two free throws in the final eight seconds. Abbey Hsu led the Lions’ charge with 22 points, while Kitty Henderson, Cecelia Collins, and Riley Weiss contributed with double-figure scores.
Hsu has been a standout player for the Lions this season, leading the team with an average of 21.2 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. Henderson and Collins have also contributed consistently, adding 14 and 10.8 points per game, respectively.
In the previous face-off between the Tigers and the Lions, Columbia made a 27-point fourth-quarter comeback to clinch a 77-69 win. The Lions capitalized on several mistakes by Memphis, who sent Columbia to the free throw line 26 times in the second half and committed six turnovers in the final 10 minutes.
The probable starters for Memphis, based on their previous game, are Ki’Ari Cain, Madison Griggs, Hannah Riddick, Kai Carter, and Alasia Smith. This lineup has a balanced record of 1-1 this season, with a win against Troy and a loss against Marquette.
For Columbia, the likely starters include Perri Page, Cecelia Collins, Fliss Henderson, Kitty Henderson, and Abbey Hsu.
Following their New York trip, the Tigers will return to Bluff City to host Southern Miss on Sunday, December 10th at 7 pm. The team will undoubtedly hope to return with another victory under their belt, bolstering their momentum as they move deeper into the season.
