University of Memphis senior guard Jamirah Shutes has been charged with assault in the sucker punch attack on Bowling Green State University senior guard Elissa Brett in the handshake line following Thursday’s Women’s National Invitation Tournament game held in Bowling Green, Ohio, according to a statement issued Friday by BGSU. Bowling Green defeated Memphis 73-60 in the ‘Super 16’ round game. BGSU advanced to play the University of Florida in the ‘Great 8’ round on Monday at Bowling Green.
WTOL reported the statement:
“Following Thursday’s unwarranted physical incident after the WNIT home game, the Bowling Green State University Police Department has charged a member of the Memphis Women’s Basketball team with assault,” the statement reads. “Additionally, BGSU Athletics is conducting its own review. Violence is never acceptable and our priority remains the health, safety and support of our student-athlete, who is recovering and doing well. This is an active investigation in conjunction with the City of Bowling Green Prosecutor, and no further comment is available at this time.”
Copy of the statement:
#Breaking: Memphis’ Jamirah Shutes charged with assualt for sucker punching BGSU’s Elissa Brett after yesterday’s @WomensNIT game #WNIT #MarchMadness #JamirahShutes pic.twitter.com/UOQVDcswdV
— The Ball Out Sports (@TheBallOutSport) March 24, 2023
Video of the attack:
BGSU women’s basketball moving on to the final 8 of the WNIT after beating Memphis — but this will steal the headlines unfortunately.
Ugly, ugly scene in the handshake line. A Memphis player punched Elissa Brett. Just brutal. pic.twitter.com/2hptXYBEtj
— Jordan Strack (@JordanStrack) March 24, 2023
WTOL-TV captured the punch from a different angle that appears to show Elissa Brett hitting her head on the scorer’s table:
Photos of the aftermath shows the team and Brett stunned over the sucker punch:
Ugly ending to the night after Bowling Green’s Elissa Brett was hit by a Memphis player in the handshake line after the game. pic.twitter.com/9QLFdguB9f
— Kurt Steiss ⚔️ (@kurtsteiss) March 24, 2023
Elissa Brett, 5’10”, from Australia, image via BGSU.
Jamirah Shutes, 5’9″, from Tennessee, image via the University of Memphis
The Commercial Appeal reported the two were involved in an altercation in the first quarter:
Shutes, a senior guard, and Brett, also a senior guard, were involved in an earlier situation during the game with 24 seconds remaining in the first quarter. Shutes was double-teamed by Brett and teammate Sophie Dziekan. After Brett was whistled for a foul, Dziekan appeared to hit Shutes inadvertently in the face while going for the ball.
Shutes, the Tigers’ leading scorer, left the game and didn’t return until the start of the third quarter.
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