College Basketball

Women’s NIT game ends with Memphis’ Jamirah Shutes punching BGSU’s Elissa Brett

Police are investigating a punch that occurred in the handshake line after Bowling Green defeated the Memphis Tigers 73-60 in the third round of the Women’s National Invitational Tournament in Ohio on Thursday night.  

Chaos erupted on the court when Memphis guard Jamirah Shutes stopped to talk with Bowling Green guard Elissa Brett.

At one point during the short exchange, Shutes appeared to swing at Brett’s face.

Memphis Tigers guard Jamirah Shutes (center) was escorted off of the court after an altercation with Bowling Green Falcons guard Elissa Brett. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Police are investigating a confrontation between two players in the Bowling Green-Memphis game in the third round of the women’s NIT in Ohio on March 23, 2023. Twitter/@JordanStrack

Brett, a senior, then fell to the floor in front of the scorer’s table at the Stroh Center, and her teammates immediately rushed to her.

Shutes — a fifth-year player, who leads the Tigers in scoring — was quickly pulled from the scene and escorted away by a team staffer.

“The incident that took place following tonight’s home WNIT game has been turned over to the BGSU Police Department,” the school said.

Chaos erupted on the court when Shutes stopped to talk with Brett. Twitter/@JordanStrack
At one point during the short exchange, Shutes appeared to swing at Brett’s face. Twitter/@JordanStrack

“Bowling Green State University Athletics does not make comments about active police investigations. Our priority is with the health, safety, and support of our student-athletes.”

Shutes took an elbow to her face with 24 seconds left in the first half and played eight minutes, the Memphis Commercial Appeal reported.

She returned to start the second half.

Shutes took an elbow to her face with 24 seconds left in the first half, the Memphis Commercial Appeal reported. Elissa Brett/Instagram
Elissa Brett appeared to be punched in an altercation during the Women’s NIT. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

A separate report said Brett took a “hard elbow” from Shutes during the game.

Bowling Green coach Robyn Fralich said they were “figuring all those things out,” as to what happened in the handshake line.

Shutes, a second-team All-AAC selection this season, finished with 13 points in her final game with the Tigers.

Brett scored 15 points in the Falcon’s win.

Bowling Green will advance to the NIT quarterfinals.

Bowling Green Falcons guard Elissa Brett tried to draw a charging call against Shutes during the basketball game. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Brett took a “hard elbow” from Shutes during the game, according to reports. Twitter/@JordanStrack

The incident came after another chippy situation in the handshake line following Louisville’s 73-51 win over Texas on Monday.

Cardinals junior guard Hailey Van Lith and Longhorns senior guard Sonya Morris had a tense exchange before Lith brushed off the handshake and stormed off.