MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Interstat) — In a game defined by relentless swings and survival, the Memphis Tigers outlasted the East Carolina Pirates 88-80 in a double-overtime American Athletic Conference women’s basketball thriller Wednesday night at FedExForum.

The contest, a stark contrast to the teams’ records, saw a struggling Memphis squad improve to 9-19 overall by snapping a five-game losing streak, while the Pirates fell to 20-9 despite a furious second-half comeback to force the extra sessions.

The narrative of the night was written by Memphis forward Tamya Smith. The 6-foot-2 sophomore from Pleasant Grove, Alabama, delivered a career-defining performance, pouring in 26 points while adding four assists and three blocks in 45 minutes. Her dominance inside was the constant for a Tigers team that repeatedly fended off East Carolina charges.

Memphis appeared to have the game in hand, building a 55-38 lead late in the third quarter behind Smith and the efficient play of Amauri Williams, who finished with 19 points. The Tigers’ offense, which shot 48.5% from the field, was methodical, while East Carolina struggled with efficiency, finishing at 36.5%.

The fourth quarter, however, belonged to the Pirates’ resilience. Led by the backcourt duo of Kennedy Fauntleroy and Taylor Barner, East Carolina unleashed a 24-11 run to close regulation. Fauntleroy, from Upper Marlboro, Maryland, orchestrated the comeback with 14 points and nine assists, repeatedly attacking the rim. Barner, from Cary, North Carolina, provided critical scoring punches, finishing with 19 points.

The Pirates finally drew even at 66-66 on a driving layup by Anzhane’ Hutton with 38 seconds left. Memphis had a chance to win in regulation, but a turnover by Daejah Richmond gave East Carolina a final shot, which rimmed out at the buzzer.

The first overtime was a tense, back-and-forth affair. Savannah Brooks and Barner hit crucial three-pointers for East Carolina, while Smith and Williams answered inside for Memphis. With the score tied at 74-74, the Tigers had a final possession, but a blocked shot by Hutton preserved the tie and forced a second overtime.

Fatigue and execution finally tipped the scales in the second extra period. Memphis, leveraging its superior free-throw shooting all night, seized control. The Tigers went 8-for-10 from the line in the final two minutes, part of a 22-for-34 performance for the game. East Carolina, by contrast, attempted only 14 free throws, making 10.

Richmond, the Tigers’ top star who had been held in check for much of the night, delivered the dagger—a stepback three-pointer with 1:54 left in the second overtime that pushed the Memphis lead to 81-78. From there, the Tigers closed the game at the line. Richmond finished with 18 points, six assists and four steals in 47 minutes.

East Carolina’s offense, which managed just six points in the second overtime, was hampered by 17 turnovers against 14 Memphis steals. Hutton added 16 points and a game-high 11 rebounds for the Pirates.

The most critical phase of the game was undoubtedly the final minutes of regulation, where East Carolina erased a once-comfortable Memphis lead. The Pirates’ full-court pressure and Fauntleroy’s playmaking transformed a potential blowout into a classic. Yet, Memphis’ composure in the overtimes, particularly at the free-throw line and on defense, proved the difference.

Memphis also won the battle of possession, committing 16 turnovers to East Carolina’s 17, and dished out 14 assists to the Pirates’ nine. The Tigers’ ability to limit East Carolina’s opportunities, despite the Pirates grabbing 18 offensive rebounds, was pivotal.

The game, played before an announced crowd of 627, was a significant upset according to predictive metrics, which had heavily favored East Carolina. For Memphis, it marked a hard-earned bright spot in a difficult season. For East Carolina, it was a costly stumble as the conference tournament approaches.

East Carolina next hosts Charlotte on Saturday. Memphis travels to face Texas-San Antonio on Sunday.