East Carolina University
11-18, 5-12Amer
Memphis
17-11, 11-6Amer
East Carolina Suffers Overtime Loss at Memphis, 93-83
February 27, 2016 | Women's Basketball
Box Score 
MEMPHIS - The East Carolina women's basketball team squandered a late nine-point lead and suffered a 93-83 overtime defeat at Memphis in American Athletic Conference action on Saturday afternoon at Roane Fieldhouse.
The contest marked the second time in a row and third time in the last four meetings the Pirates and Tigers played into overtime.
Four ECU players scored in double-figures, led by Jada Payne's game-high 28 points and team-high seven rebounds, while Marina Laramie added 21 points. DeVaughn Gray contributed 14 points and a career-high seven assists, while I'Tiana Taylor chipped in 12 points, six rebounds and led all players with four steals.
Ariel Hearn paced the Tigers with 22 points, nine boards and five assists, as Asianna Fuqua-Bey scored 21 points with eight rebounds. Mooriah Rowser added 18 points and Brianna Wright poured in 14 points to go with nine grabs off the glass.
East Carolina (11-18, 5-12 AAC) opened up an early 12-8 lead over the Tigers after Laramie and Payne knocked down three-pointers, while Taylor and Khadidja Toure scored respective layups down to the media timeout with 4:54 remaining. Laramie's second three-pointer tied the game at 17-all with 1:26 to go in the period, but a 9-2 run by Memphis (17-11, 11-6 AAC) pushed the home team in front by seven after 10 minutes of action.
The Tigers continued that run with four-straight points to start the second quarter and create their largest lead of the half - 13 points - with the score 32-19 and 8:13 remaining in the half. The margin would stay in double digits until the Pirates began chipping away at their deficit and moved with four points, 40-36, following a three by Gray with 1:37 left. Memphis would push the advantage back to nine points with the last five points of the period and took a 46-37 lead into the locker rooms at halftime.
ECU shot 14-for-25 (.560) from the field, 4-for-6 (.667) beyond the three-point line and 5-for-6 (.833) at the free throw line in the first half, while Memphis shot 18-for-34 (.529) on the floor, 3-for-9 (.333) from deep and 7-for-11 (.636) at the foul stripe.
East Carolina came out firing on all cylinders to start the second half, outscoring Memphis, 13-7, down to the 4:53 mark and cutting the deficit to three points, 53-50. The run continued on three-straight jumpers and a free throw by Laramie to put the Pirates back in front, 57-53, at the 3:18 mark. The Tigers could put together a small rally to tie the game at 61 after three quarters of action
Laramie scored 12 of ECU's 24 points in the third quarter, the most the Pirates have scored in the third period of a conference game this season.
Both sides exchanged baskets to start the final frame, but after a Wright bucket with 7:33 left in the fourth quarter tied the game at 66 apiece, nine-straight points and an 11-2 run by East Carolina down to the 2:06 mark gave the purple and gold a 77-68 lead. Memphis erased the deficit with five free throw conversions as part of an 11-2 run of their own to tie the game at 79-all and force overtime.
The Tigers continued to use the Pirates' foul trouble to their advantage, working the ball inside, getting to the foul line and outscoring ECU, 14-4, in the period to seal the 10-point triumph.
East Carolina finished the day shooting 34-for-66 (.515) overall, 5-for-15 (.333) from beyond the arc and10-for12 (.833) at the free throw line, while Memphis went 32-for-70 (.457) from the field, 7-for-21 (.333) at the perimeter and 22-for-31 (.710) at the stripe.
ECU owned a 46-38 scoring advantage in the paint and 10-2 edge on the fast break, but the Tigers held a 21-16 margin off turnovers, 23-11 lead on second chances and 16-4 ledger off the bench.
The Pirates will close out their regular season on Monday, Feb. 29 when it hosts SMU on Senior Night. Opening tip-off is set for 7 p.m., at Williams Arena in Minges Coliseum.
