On Monday afternoon, Memphis women’s basketball faced a tough exhibition match against No. 19 Vanderbilt in the Hoops for St. Jude Tip-Off Classic held at FedEx Forum. Despite displaying resilience throughout the game, Memphis fell to Vanderbilt with a final score of 104-68.
The Tigers experienced a challenging start, trailing by 16 points at one stage during the first quarter. However, they showed considerable determination by dominating the second and third quarters, outscoring Vanderbilt 43-34 during that stretch. The fourth quarter, unfortunately, saw the Commodores unleash a powerful offensive display, scoring 41 points and pulling ahead decisively.
In terms of individual performances, Memphis had several noteworthy contributors. Tamya Smith led the team with 12 points, while Jordan Hunter contributed 11. Brooklyn Alexander came close to setting personal highs, recording nine points and nine rebounds.
Vanderbilt’s Mikayla Blakes, a standout from the 2025 AP All-American team, delivered an impressive showing with 40 points, showcasing her shooting skills by hitting 5 of 10 attempts from beyond the arc.
Memphis capitalized on Vanderbilt’s turnovers, forcing 10 in the second quarter, while achieving an impressive shooting accuracy of 52.6% during that period. Their aggressive play following halftime resulted in 18 rebounds in the third quarter, significantly outpacing Vanderbilt’s six.
Overall, the Tigers recorded a 51% shooting percentage on two-pointers but struggled with their three-point shooting, failing to convert on any of their 17 attempts from distance. Looking ahead, Memphis is set to begin its regular season next Monday, November 3, against Arkansas – Pine Bluff, with the game scheduled to take place at Elma Roane Fieldhouse at 11:00 a.m.
For more updates and information on Memphis Tigers Basketball, visit their official website at www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team on social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
