First road win keeps SMU perfect at 3-0

[PonyPride]

Women's Basketball Wins 63-52 At New Orleans

Nov. 21, 2009

NEW ORLEANS, La. (SMU) - Leading by five, the SMU women's basketball team went on a 10-4 run to start the second half and never looked back, knocking off New Orleans 63-52 in the first road test of the season.

Brittany Gilliam led the Mustangs (3-0) with 12 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for the Mustangs' first double-double of the season. Christine Elliott and Jillian Samuels added 11 points each, and Haley Day dropped in 10 to give SMU four players in double figures.

SMU held New Orleans to just six points over the first 11 minutes of the second half to extend the lead to 16, 50-34 with 9:50 left in the game. The Privateers didn't score again until the 8:51 mark, but never got within 10 points the rest of the way.

The Mustangs overcame nine first-half turnovers to take a 29-24 lead into the locker room. While SMU shot just 36.7-percent in the first half, including going 1-of-11 from behind the arc, the Mustangs out-rebounded New Orleans 23-18, including 10 offensive rebounds to take the five-point lead into the break.

The Privateers got out to a 4-0 lead early in the period, but SMU kept New Orleans from stretching the lead any farther. The Mustangs hit their first three free throws to cut the lead to 4-3. SMU took its first lead of the half nearly six minutes into the game when Gilliam scored to give the Mustangs a 7-6 lead.

New Orleans took the lead back with 12:05 left in the half, and held the advantage until Haley Day knocked down SMU's first 3-pointer to give SMU a 27-24 lead. SMU added another basket in the final minute to take a 29-24 lead into the locker room.

The Mustangs return home to take on Eastern Illinois Tuesday at 7 p.m. in Moody Coliseum.

[skyscraper]

Way to go ladies. Keep up the good work!

[Corso]

Looking forward to Tuesday's game. Ponies are off to a great start.

[mrydel]

Is anyone upset because they thought this was a thread about the men's team?

[indianmustang]

Is anyone upset because they thought this was a thread about the men's team?

not me
good win

[CA Mustang]

Is anyone upset because they thought this was a thread about the men's team?

I'm sure with all the times in recent seasons the men's team started 3-0, there were a few confused folks.

[Kiper]

Always good to pick up that first road win, especially on what looks like a night when we didn't shoot that well, at least from the three-point line.

Here's to #4 Tuesday - see you at Moody!