Arkansas acquires incentive to beat Memphis naturally

ROB KEYS
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

FAYETTEVILLE -- Celia Anderson doesn't mince words when it comes to her feelings for the Memphis Lady Tigers.
"I despise Memphis," said Anderson, a 6-1 senior center from Little Rock.
Anderson said there isn't any specific reason for her dislike of Memphis, but she did call the Lady Tigers "mean." The schools have battled for recruits in the recent past, and Memphis handed Arkansas back-to-back losses over the past two seasons, with last year's coming at North Little Rock's Alltel Arena.
Anderson considered that game a homecoming of sorts, and finished with a career-high 19 points. Arkansas blew a 17-point first-half lead, and Memphis won 88-82 after taking the lead in the game's final minute.
"The buzzer sounded and the game was over, and we were like, 'We lost?' " Anderson said. "We basically just gave it to them, and we're going to make sure we don't do that this year. If they win it this year, they're going to have to earn it."
Today's game will be the season opener for both teams, and tipoff at The Pyramid in Memphis is 1 p.m.
"I don't know what to expect, to tell you the truth, because we have not faced a good defensive team yet," said Arkansas Coach Gary Blair, who watched the Lady Razorbacks win two exhibition games by a combined score of 167-126. "The best thing Memphis does is that their kids play extremely hard. They play a lot harder than Australia or Athletes in Action. They might not be as talented offensively individually, but what they do is play hard and create opportunities with their defense for their offense.
"They do a great job of forcing tempo. ... and they do not let turnovers bother them because they know they're going to force you into a lot of turnovers. They want the score up in the 80s, 90s, 100s, whatever."
Memphis returns four starters from last year's team, including 6-2 center Shannon Hamp and guard Lauren Jackson, who scored 19 and 13 points, respectively, against Arkansas last season. The Lady Tigers finished last season 18-12 and earned a trip to the WNIT.
Blair said Arkansas, which ended last season 17-15 and lost to Florida in the WNIT semifinals, also will try to push the tempo and employ pressing defenses of its own.
"We will be as good as our press-breaker against their press, and I'm sure [Memphis Coach Joye Lee-McNelis] is saying the same thing about us," Blair said.
If the game does prove to be an up-tempo affair, the intensity should be heightened in a series that has developed into a fierce rivalry despite Memphis holding a 7-3 lead.
"I think it's very similar to our men's rivalry, and I think that's how it should be," Blair said. "I think the Southwest Missouri State rivalry is more for the fans. This rivalry is more for the coaches and players.
"I'm just glad we're playing at The Pyramid instead of their pit [Elma Roane Fieldhouse] over there."
The last time Arkansas played at Roane Field House, Memphis dropped the 13th-ranked Lady Razorbacks 70-58 during the 1998-99 season, sparking a three-game losing streak.
Anderson doesn't want a repeat performance of that game, especially considering Arkansas is expected to play as many as six first- or second-year players.
"When you have young kids and we lose our first game, they're going to get down, and us older kids will have to work extra hard to get them back up," said Anderson, Arkansas' leading scorer in both exhibitions. "Of course, if we start off with a win, they're already on a high. That's easier for us because we can just feed off that win."
For Anderson, winning against Memphis would add some extra spice.

WHEN 1 p.m. today
WHERE The Pyramid, Memphis
TV None
RADIO Lady Razorback Radio Network

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS
ARKANSAS, POS. HT. YR.
Amy Wright, G 5-7 Jr.
Dana Cherry, G 5-8 So.
OR
Wendi Willits, G 5-8 Sr.
Lonniya Bragg, F 5-11 Sr.
Shameka Christon, F 6-2 Fr.
Celia Anderson, C 6-1 Sr.

MEMPHIS, POS. HT. YR.
Tiffany Collins, G 5-6 Sr.
Lauren Jackson, G 5-10 Jr.
Tiffany Adkins, F 6-0 Sr.
Malissa Bush, F 6-1 Jr.
Shannon Hamp, C 6-2 So.

GAME INFORMATION
COACHES Gary Blair (136-84 in seventh season at Arkansas, 346-127 in 15th season overall); Joye Lee-McNelis (167-101 in 10 seasons at Memphis)
KEYS TO VICTORY Both teams want to press and push the tempo, so limiting turnovers and foul problems will be critical. Memphis appears to have a more veteran team, but Arkansas has been energized during the preseason by its three first-year players -- Shameka Christon, Shanna Harmon and Katrina Nesby. Free-throw shooting could be pivotal if this proves to be a close game. Arkansas made 29 of 42 (69 percent) in its two exhibitions. Memphis made 34 of 47 (72 percent) in its two preseason games.
QUOTING ARKANSAS COACH BLAIR "I think the game is going to be won or lost at the point guard position. They've got to take care of it against our pressure, and we've got to take care of it against their pressure."
QUOTING MEMPHIS COACH LEE-MCNELIS "I feel like [Arkansas] is going to come out feeling like they owe us one."
NOTEWORTHY Arkansas, which has never won in Memphis, is making its first appearance at The Pyramid. ... The Lady Razorbacks committed season highs in turnovers each of the last two times they have played at Memphis. ... Redshirt freshman Katrina Nesby is from West Memphis. ... Arkansas is the first of four SEC teams Memphis will play this season. The others are Mississippi State (Nov. 21), Tennessee (Dec. 15) and Alabama (Dec. 17). ... The 2001 SEC Women's Basketball Tournament will be played at The Pyramid.
-- Rob Keys

This article was published on Saturday, November 18, 2000

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