Temple, Memphis make history
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis and Temple matched the longest game in NCAA women’s basketball history Thursday night, with the Tigers outlasting the Owls 100-97 in five overtimes.
Brianna Wright scored a career-high 35 points for Memphis, including the tie-breaking basket with 6.2 seconds left in the fifth overtime. Drexel beat Northeastern 98-80 on Feb. 22, 2007, in the only other Division I five-overtime game. Two Division II games have gone to five overtimes.
The game was tied at 50 at the end of regulation. Both teams broke the previous record of 43 points by a one team in overtimes and the combined 97 points in the five extra periods set a record, surpassing the 83 by Kentucky and Baylor on Dec. 6, 2013, in a four-OT game.
Both teams entered game having won six of their last seven and the game was close throughout. The game featured 22 ties and 17 lead changes and the largest lead was nine by Temple late in the third quarter.
Mooriah Rowser added 21 points for the Tigers (16-10, 10-5 American). Asianna Fuqua-Bey had 13 rebounds, and Wright had 10.
Feyonda Fitzgerald had 26 points for Temple (17-9, 11-4). Alliya Butts added 19 points, Donnaizha Fountain had 17 points and 11 rebounds.
