Memphis women's basketball defeats Jackson State for first WNIT win since 2012

Evan Barnes, Memphis Commercial Appeal
·3 min read

Two years ago, Memphis women's basketball played to near-empty stands at Elma Roane Fieldhouse. It stemmed from a mix of COVID-19 attendance restrictions and lack of buzz around the program.

Thursday was the clearest sign of the 180-degree turn under coach Katrina Merriweather. A sold-out crowd of fans in blue. The Tigers in the WNIT for the first time in seven years. Jackson State's band added a sonic boom as their horns battled with Memphis' band.

Memphis did its job after that, winning 79-68 over Jackson State for its first postseason victory since 2012. It was also the program's first home sellout since 2014.

"It was so special," Memphis senior Jamirah Shutes said. "From the time I've been here, it was never like that. It just felt good."

Memphis hosts Ball State (26-8), a 101-86 winner over Belmont, in the second round on Monday at 7 p.m.

Here are three takeaways from the first round of the WNIT.

Early 3-point storm

Memphis' first two shots were made 3-pointers by Emani Jefferson and Madison Griggs. It set a tone as the Tigers (21-10) started the game 6-for-9 on 3-pointers.

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Griggs scored 13 of her 15 points in the first half and was 3-for-7 on 3-pointers before halftime. The Tigers also kept Jackson State (21-10) cold on 3-pointers as JSU was 1-for-8 in the first half and didn't make their second 3-pointer until early in the fourth quarter.

Memphis cooled off to finish 8-for-25 on 3-pointers but the hot start kept them ahead to lead wire-to-wire.

Memphis' Jamirah Shutes (23) prepares to shoot the ball during the WNIT first round game between Memphis and Jackson State in the Elma Roane Field House at the University of Memphis in Memphis, Tenn., on March 16, 2023.
Memphis' Jamirah Shutes (23) prepares to shoot the ball during the WNIT first round game between Memphis and Jackson State in the Elma Roane Field House at the University of Memphis in Memphis, Tenn., on March 16, 2023.

Jamirah Shutes leads the way

Shutes was honored pregame for crossing 1,500 career points. Then the fifth-year senior added more for a game-high 24 points.

The Tigers' leading scorer tied her season high and had her eighth game with at least 20 points this season. In the third quarter, Shutes brought the crowd to their feet after she spun past one defender before pulling up for a floater.

It capped a 10-point period for the senior. Shutes didn't score in the fourth quarter but by then, she did enough to keep the Tigers' season going for at least one more game.

Size doesn't matter

JSU had two players in its rotation who were 6-foot-5 or taller but Memphis wasn't deterred from crashing the glass. Memphis outrebounded JSU 48-41 and did damage with 22 offensive rebounds to JSU's 17.

It helped the Tigers get 22 second-chance points. Hannah Riddick had eight rebounds and Destiny Thomas added seven rebounds. Emani Jefferson also added 14 points.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis women's basketball tops Jackson State for first WNIT win since 2012