Jan. 2, 2000
Box Score
BIRMINGHAM, ALA. - The University of Memphis Lady Tiger basketball team opened the new year with a hard-fought, 65-64, victory over UAB in the squad's first conference meeting of the season.
"It was an ugly win, but it was a win that I am not going to give away," said coach Joye Lee-McNelis. "I just don't understand how we can play so well in the last two games and come out as flat as we did. We had a horrible practice yesterday and this group did not show up and focus. We came back and had a good shootaround this morning, but then turned around and came out flat for the game."
Senior Yolanda Reed led the Lady Tigers in scoring and rebounding with 17 points and 12 rebounds. She hit 6-of-12 shots from the field and recorded nine defensive rebounds in her first double-double of the season.
Also in double digits for Memphis was freshman Shannon Hamp with 13 points, junior Patrice Boyd with 12 points and sophomore Lauren Jackson who added 10 points and led the team with four assists. Bush, who had missed the last six games with a stress fracture in her right foot scored six points in her first game back in the lineup.
The Lady Tigers went to the lockerroom at the half with a one-point deficit, 28-27, le also scoring after shooting 44.0 percent (11-of-25) from the field. Yolanda Reed scored the team's first six points of the half before Shannon Hamp picked up the pace with 10 of the team's 27 points. The Lady Blazers shot 41.4 percent (12-of-29) from the field, led by Michelle Smith with 10 points.
Michelle Smith led the Lady Blazers in scoring and rebounding with 15 points and nine boards. Also in double figures for UAB was Mia Thrash and Lisa Jackson who added 12 points and 10 points, respectively.
The Lady Tigers will play their next two games on the road as they travel to Hattiesburg, Miss., and New Orleans next week. Memphis will play Southern Miss on Jan. 7 and Tulane on Jan. 9. The Lady Tigers' next home game will be on Jan. 13 when they host South Florida in a 7 p.m. meeting at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse.
