A Memphis basketball player has been charged with assault by Bowling Green campus police after he punched a Falcons player in the handshake line after a women’s NIT game, according to Bowling Green’s athletic department.
The confrontation followed Bowling Green’s win over Memphis on Thursday night.
As the teams headed to Center Court after Bowling Green’s 73-60 win in the round of 16, Memphis’ Jamirah Shutes stopped to speak with Falcons player Elissa Brett. After a brief conversation, Shute’s board appears to deliver a slap in the face. Brett fell to the scorer’s table and the sidelines.
Video of the incident showed Shute’s teammate quickly grabbing her and escorting her off the pitch while Brett’s teammates checked on her.
BGSU women’s basketball moves into the last 8 of the WNIT after beating Memphis – but unfortunately this will steal the headlines.
Ugly, ugly scene in the handshake line. A Memphis player beat Elissa Brett. Simply brutal. pic.twitter.com/2hptXYBEtj
— Jordan Strack (@JordanStrack) March 24, 2023
There was no immediate word as to what caused the confrontation or if any player was seriously injured.
Bowling Green said in a statement that the incident is in the hands of campus police.
“The incident, which occurred after today’s WNIT home game, was turned over to the BGSU Police Department,” the school said. “Bowling Green State University Athletics does not comment on an active police investigation. Our priority is the health, safety and support of our student-athletes.”
Bowling Green Falcons guard Elissa Brett (5), left, is assisted off the court after an altercation with Memphis Tigers guard Jamirah Shutes (not pictured) during the post-game handshake following a third-round college basketball game March 23, 2023 at Straw Center in Bowling Green, Ohio. Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Bowling Green coach Robyn Frölich did not directly comment on the incident after the game, saying only that they were “figuring out all these things” about what happened in the handshake line.
The Memphis Athletics Department said Friday that the incident was “extremely unfortunate and certainly not consistent with or representative of our expectations for our programs and student athletes.”
“As the incident occurred after the game, responsibility rests with the local authorities and we are fully cooperating with their process,” the statement said. “To respect this process, we will not comment further until it is complete.”
The Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper reported that Shutes, who leads the Tigers in scoring, elbowed in the face with 24 seconds left in the first quarter and played just eight minutes in the first half. She returned to start the second half.
Memphis Tigers guard Jamirah Shutes (23) is escorted off the court after an altercation with Bowling Green Falcons guard Elissa Brett (not pictured) during the post-game handshake following a college basketball game of the third round of the Womens National Invitational Tournament. 2023 at the Straw Center in Bowling Green, Ohio. Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Shutes, a fifth-year player who finished her last game with the Tigers with 13 points, was a second-team All-AAC selection this season.
Brett scored 15 points in the win, including 13 in the third quarter.
Bowling Green next plays Florida in the WNIT Great 8 on Monday.
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