USC Women Lose in Final Seconds to Memphis, 74-72

A sophomore rocket-launcher named Kitty Allen made three three-point baskets when they counted, allowing Memphis to score a 74-72 victory over the USC women’s basketball team Friday night.

Before 5,763 at Vanderbilt’s Memorial Gym, USC lost a five-point lead with 1:16 to play, then rallied to tie with nine seconds left.

But two free throws by Keeta Matthews with less than two seconds to go ended USC’s second season under Cheryl Miller and sent Memphis (22-7) into Sunday’s sub-regional title game against Vanderbilt.

Vanderbilt (27-6), seeded No. 1 in the West, outclassed Northern Illinois (17-14), 90-44.

Allen, a 5-foot-9 guard from Paris, Tenn., was five of eight from three-point range, three of those shots coming in the final 6:21.

A 37% three-point shooter this season, Allen brought the mostly quiet Memphis partisans into the game with a long bomb that tied the Trojans, 54-54. Another, 70 seconds later, gave Memphis a 57-56 lead, but the last one seemed like a killer to USC at the time.

It came with 1:16 left and gave the Tigers a five-point lead, 70-65, with 1:16 to go.

For the Trojans, who lost their final three games, it was a defeat of the toughest kind.

USC (18-10) led for most of the game and had a six-point edge with 10:23 left.

The Trojans seemed to be getting stronger while Memphis looked suddenly tired, particlarly when USC’s fast-break offense sizzled for a two-minute stretch at the five-minute mark.

But then came two of Allen’s long shots, and USC began to fade. Senior Karleen Shields made several big plays in the stretch, but they weren’t enough.

It was Shields who got a layup to cut Memphis’ edge to 72-69 with 38 seconds left.

Then Jody Anton, who already had one sprained ankle, tweaked the other one and missed seven minutes, stole the ball at halfcourt and went the distance for a layup with 14 seconds to go.

After a Memphis timeout, a poor length-of-the-court Memphis pass was easily intercepted by Shields under USC’s basket, and she called time with 12 seconds left.

Shields was fouled at midcourt and made the first free throw to tie it at 72-72, but missed the second with nine seconds left.

Memphis’ Matthews, the team’s best free-throw shooter, was fouled on the inbounds throw and made both attempts.

Shields bowed out with perhaps her best USC game--28 points and four assists. Tina Thompson had 22 and 15, but also nine turnovers.

Afterward, Miller said she gives Memphis a shot against powerful Vanderbilt.

“Memphis is deep, young and cocky, and I love teams like that,” she said. “Vandy will have their hands full.”