SMU beats down UTEP, 72-61

[PonyPride]

Junior Haley Day led the Mustangs with a season-high 18 points, and senior guard Brittany Gilliam added a double-double with 17 points and 11 assists, and the SMU Mustangs went on a 16-0 run in the second half to rally past Conference USA rival UTEP, 72-61, Friday night at Moody Coliseum.

The victory improved the Ponies to 12-4 overall this season, and 2-1 in C-USA games. UTEP slipped to 10-7 overall and 1-2 in C-USA games.

Day and Gilliam were two of four Mustangs scoring in double figures Friday night. Senior guard Jillian Samuels added 12 points, including a pair of three-pointers, while sophomore post Christine Elliott added 11. Elliott and Day each fell one rebound short of notching double-doubles of their own.

Friday's win over the Miners marked the second game in which Gilliam — the defending C-USA Defensive Player of the Year — started at point guard.

"I like it," Day said of the move to start Gilliam at point guard. "She pushes the ball, and she's tall enough that she can see over guards, so she makes really good entry passes."

While scoring 17 and handing out 11 assists, Gilliam's defensive effort against two-time C-USA Player of the Year Jareica Hughes was perhaps just as important to the outcome of the game. Hughes, who entered Friday's game averaging 14.1 points per game, was held to just seven Friday night, thanks in large part to Gilliam's effort on the defensive end.

"B.G. was great defensively," Day said. "Jareica always goes off against us, and B.G. did a great job on her. That was the best defense she has played all year."

Head coach Rhonda Rompola said she was pleased with the Mustangs' improved effort and intensity after a lackluster 1-1 road trip to start the C-USA season.

"We made some hustle plays — diving out of bounds, saving the ball to teammates," Rompola said. "We also competed more on the boards. We're now 7-0 when we have 40 or more rebounds, and after tonight, we're 7-0 when we out-rebound our opponents."

The Mustangs had 38 rebounds, while the Miners collected 27.

Rompola was complimentary of several players, including post Heidi Brandenburg and guard Sam Mahnesmith, who contributed key minutes off the bench, but it was Gilliam and Day who earned their coach's top praise.

"B.G. had a better offensive game (than on the recent road trip), and Haley had a better offensive game," Rompola said. "They weren't really hitting their shots when UTEP had the lead early on, but Haley's three-pointers were huge (Day hit four-of-five from behind the arc). Sometimes, you really only need one player, let alone two, to go off to get the rest of the team started.

"B.G. played (Hughes) the whole game. We took her out when Hughes came out — and that was by design. I was a little surprised Hughes didn't try to take over the game more in the second half, but that was partly because B.G. did a great job on her."

The Mustangs return to action Sunday afternoon when they host Tulane at 2 p.m. Sunday.

[mustangbill67]

This game belonged to Haley Day. Her relentless defense and three point shooting (4 0f 5) was the key to the victory. We struggled most of the game allowing UTEP to build up large leads and then taking it back. This was not from a lack of effort. UTEP shot well and played pretty good defense. Finally at the end we put it all together and blew them out. BTW, Orsini was there for the entire game and seemed like he really enjoyed seeing what a good team looked like.

[Charleston Pony]

how about BG dishing out 11 assists and only turning it over once? I'd say she did a GREAT job running the point!

[SMUFan]

Day was really good, but BG's defense on Hughes won the game. She was awesome last night.

[Roach]

That could be a real springboard of a win for the Ponies. Slow start in conference games on the road last week, but beating a big rival with the defending (two time) conference Player of the Year is no small accomplishment, especially when you've got to rally to do it.

Nice job, Ponies!

[mrydel]

Is the player of the year that huge guy that plays center for them? I thought (s)he was gone.