Memphis didn’t need a flashy night to keep rolling Monday. It needed defense, depth and just enough offense to keep Little Rock at arm’s length, and the Tigers got all three in a 62-48 win inside Elma Roane Fieldhouse.
The result moved Memphis to 3-0, its best start since the 2004-05 season, and kept first-year head coach Hana Haden unbeaten. Haden became the first Memphis women’s basketball head coach to open a season with three straight wins since that 2004-05 team.
The Tigers’ bench did a lot of the heavy lifting. Junior forward Tamya Smith led Memphis with 16 points and six rebounds, doing most of her damage on an efficient 6-of-7 shooting night. Tierney Kelsey added 14 points off the bench and knocked down a three-pointer while going 5-of-6 at the line.
Memphis also got a full stat-line effort from Ainaya Williams, who finished with nine points, 10 rebounds, five blocks and a steal. That rebound total made her the first Tiger this season to hit double digits on the glass.
Her five blocks were the most by a Memphis player since Alasia Smith against North Texas on Jan. 4, 2025.
Senior guard Daejah Richmond chipped in 10 points, six rebounds, five assists and four steals, while Anjanae Richardson added six points, five rebounds and three assists.
The Tigers set the tone early by squeezing Little Rock defensively. The Trojans shot just 20 percent in the first quarter, and Memphis used a nine-point run to build a 16-10 lead after one.
The second quarter turned into a slog for both teams, but Memphis still won the stretch by leaning on its defense. The Tigers managed only two field goals in 10 tries, yet Little Rock was even colder, hitting just 2 of 16 shots and scoring only five points. Memphis took a 25-15 lead into halftime.
After the break, the Tigers found their best offensive rhythm of the night. They shot 66.7 percent in the third quarter, hit two threes and outscored Little Rock 20-15 to stretch the margin to 45-30 heading to the fourth.
Memphis kept control from there, pushing the lead to as many as 16 in the final quarter. Little Rock made a late push, but the Tigers never let the game get back within reach.
By the end, Memphis had shot 45.5 percent from the field and held Little Rock to 28.1 percent. The Tigers also owned the paint, 36-22, and got a massive boost from the reserves, outscoring the Trojans 30-4 in bench points.
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