Adkins Leads Memphis to Win

Tiffany Adkins had 37 points and nine rebounds Tuesday night as Memphis defeated 15th-ranked Mississippi State, 88-82, in a women’s basketball game at Memphis, Tenn.

Adkins made 14 of 22 shots to help the Lady Tigers (2-0) overcome a dominating performance by Mississippi State’s LaToya Thomas.

Thomas scored a school-record 48 points and pulled down 10 rebounds. She made 18 of 31 shots and 10 of 12 free throws for the Lady Bulldogs (0-1).

Mississippi State, which had trailed by as many as 17 points in the second half, pulled to 86-82 with 1:15 to play on Keisha Stringfellow’s short shot. But Adkins made two free throws with 6.4 seconds left for the final margin.

Adkins scored 19 points in the first half to help Memphis to a 46-33 lead.

Mississippi State’s Thomas scored 23 points in the first half, including the Lady Bulldogs’ first 14. While Thomas made nine of 16 shots, her teammates made only three of 18.