Tigers Cap Off Trip With Overtime Thriller Against Penn

The score of the box LOS ANGELES, Calif .– The Tigers put an exclamation mark at the end of their weeklong trip with the 73-68 overtime win over Penn to cap the LMU Thanksgiving Classic. Tonight’s victory marks the team’s third victory this week and its fourth consecutive victory.
After tonight’s win, Memphis drops to 6-1 on aggregate.
A tip-off battle, Memphis and Penn traded baskets to open the game.
The Tigers and Quakers would undergo nine leader changes in the first 10 minutes of play before Emani jefferson put in a bucket to give Memphis the 16-15 lead before the second quarter.
Penn’s offense sparked in the second period and slashed the Tigers down to 10 after Kayla Padilla emptied her fourth three-point shot from the quarter. Baskets of Tyler frierson, Madison Griggs and Hannah riddick would reduce Memphis’ deficit to 33-29 before the break.
The Quakers kept their lead in check for the third and most of the fourth quarter before the Memphis offense returned.
Memphis would get buckets of Coriah Beck, Jatyjia jones and Alana davis in the home stretch to knock the Tigers down with 16 seconds left in regulation. Emani jefferson, who was fouled with a second left, went 1-2 from the charity strip to make it a 60-60 game and send it into overtime.
The Tigers’ post duo of Davis and Frierson gave Memphis their first four overtime baskets and led them 68-62. Penn would add back-to-back baskets from Kayla Padilla and Marianna Papazoglou to tie the game again, but the finesse of Maya stovall got the better of the Quaker defense as she made her way for an easy left layup to give the Tigers the 70-68 advantage.
Three combined free throws of Jamirah Shutes and Emani jefferson in the final 12 seconds of the game sealed the deal for the Tigers as they clinched the 73-68 victory.
Shutes (17), Frierson (15), Jefferson (12) and Davis (10) all scored in double digits while Frierson recorded the team’s first double-double of the season adding 12 rebounds.
As a team, Memphis shot just under 36 percent from the field and passed the Quakers 53-38.
The Tigers will travel once again this month when they travel to Tuscaloosa to face the Crimson Tide of Alabama on Tuesday night. Departure is scheduled for 6 p.m.
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