March 6, 2008

Box Score

Notes

Quotes

ORLANDO, Fla. - Game one of the 2008 Conference USA Women's Basketball Championship at the UCF Arena in Orlando, Fla., delivered the event's first upset as No. 10 Tulsa downed No. 7 Memphis, 85-63.

The Golden Hurricane had five players score in double figures, led by Chanel Johnson's 19. Johnson also chipped in a game-high tying eight rebounds.

Tulsa grabbed its first lead of the game, 6-4, at the 17:19 mark of the first half and never trailed the rest of the contest. TU stretched the lead to 10 at the break, 37-27, after shooting 41 percent from the floor as a team.

In the second stanza, Tulsa was even hotter from the floor, shooting a 65 percent clip, while making 12-of-18 free throws. They shot 52 percent for the game and the final margin of 22 points was their biggest lead of the contest. TU capitalized on 23 Memphis turnovers to turn them into 15 points. The Hurricane also dominated in the paint, out-scoring the Tigers 22-4.

ReShawndra Jackson tallied 16 points for the Hurricane and added six steals, four assists, and three rebounds. Tatum Beer scored 15 points and Larrissa Willaims had 14. Teka Brooks chipped in with 11 points and pulled down eight rebounds.

The Tigers were led by LaToya Bullard's game-high 27 points. Bullard dished out eight assists and had three rebounds and two steals. Jessica Hall also netted double figures with 14 points. Ashley Thornton grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.

ESPN analyst Carolyn Peck was in attendance to watch the opening round session of the Championship. Peck stopped by on her way to the SEC Championship.

Memphis ends its season 10-20. The game was the last for head coach Blair Savage-Lansden, who earlier in the week announced her resignation after four years at the school.

Tulsa improves to 11-19 on the season and advances to face second-seeded SMU at 12 p.m. EST on Friday.