This past season was the last for three Tiger seniors of the U of M women's basketball team - forward Pa'Sonna Hope, guard Devin Mack and guard Jasbriell Swain.
Despite concluding their eligibility at the U of M, each of the three seniors began her collegiate career elsewhere. Hope played her first two seasons at the University of Mississippi, Mack played her first two at Kishwaukee College and Swain played three years at Binghamton University before transferring back home to Memphis for her senior season.
Swain played just one year for the Tigers, but nevertheless she still felt emotional at the conclusion of the season.
"It's surreal. I think it'll all hit me when it's all said and done, when I'm finally hanging up my jersey, but I'm happy and I'm really gonna miss my teammates," Swain said following the Tigers senior night victory over the University of Cincinnati.
Swain appeared in 29 games in her senior campaign, averaging 2.2 points and 2.8 rebounds in 16 minutes of action per game.
Mack appeared in 31 games, scoring 4.1 points per contest and making 13 starts.
Hope started 25 games for the Tigers while posting 7.3 points per game on 45 percent shooting to go along with 6.8 rebounds.
Losing the double-double threat of Hope may seem to leave a hole in the Blue and Gray's frontcourt, but it will leave room for some of the Tigers' younger players to develop. Freshman forward Brandi Goodman battled injury for the first half of the 2013-14 campaign, but she emerged as an effective rebounder and solid defensive presence when seeing minutes late in the season.
Sophomore forward Courtney Powell regularly provided a spark off the bench, averaging three rebounds per game in just 11 minutes.
Hope's departure will free up minutes for these players to further develop and give them an opportunity to make more meaningful contributions on the court in the coming season.
Memphis finished the year with a 13-18 record - its worst since a 12-18 mark posted in head coach Melissa McFerrin's first season in 2008-09. The Tigers faced a tougher level of competition in the American Athletic Conference, allowing them to get their shot at some of the nation's elite teams including the University of Connecticut, which holds an undefeated record and plays for the national championship Tuesday night.
