Preview: South Florida Bulls at Memphis Tigers

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Interstat) — Two American Athletic Conference teams looking to build momentum will meet Saturday when the South Florida Bulls visit the Memphis Tigers at FedExForum.

South Florida (9-7) enters on a two-game winning streak after a 70-65 road victory at UAB on Tuesday. The Bulls have shown resilience, bouncing back from a three-game skid in late December. Guard Katie Davidson, coming off a 20-point performance against UAB, has been a key offensive catalyst. She averaged 14.3 points over her last three games prior to the UAB contest.

Memphis (7-9) also snapped a losing streak in its last outing, defeating Florida Atlantic 74-66 at home on Wednesday. The Tigers are 5-3 at FedExForum this season. They are led by guard Daejah Richmond, who is coming off a season-high 23-point, four-assist effort against FAU. Richmond has been a consistent scorer, averaging 16.3 points over her last four conference-level games.

The matchup features contrasting strengths. South Florida’s offense, which put up 77 points in a win over North Texas last week, will test a Memphis defense that has allowed an average of 68.4 points in its losses. Conversely, the Tigers will rely on Richmond’s playmaking and look to exploit a Bulls defense that surrendered 103 points in a lopsided loss to South Carolina last month.

Historically, the series has been competitive, adding intrigue to this conference opener for both squads. With both teams hovering near .500, a win is crucial for building a positive trajectory in AAC play.

South Florida will look for production beyond Davidson, as Edyn Battle (18 points, 6 assists vs. UAB) has emerged as a secondary scorer. Memphis will need complementary scoring around Richmond, with Tamya Smith (18 points vs. FAU) providing a recent boost.

Tip-off is set for Saturday afternoon. South Florida travels to face UTSA next Tuesday, while Memphis hits the road for a game at North Texas.