WBB beats ECU in AAC tournament, faces USF Saturday

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

SMU Beats East Carolina In First Round of AAC Championship
Mustangs Advance To Second Round Against No. 3-Seed USF

March 3, 2017

UNCASVILLE, Conn. (SMU) – Alicia Froling scored 23 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead No. 6-seed SMU to a 60-54 victory over No. 11-seed East Carolina in the first round of the 2017 Frontier Communications American Athletic Conference Championship Friday night. With the win, SMU improved to 17-13 while the Pirates fell to 11-19.

With 2:20 remaining in the fourth quarter and SMU leading by two, 54-52, McKenzie Adams nailed a 15-foot jumper to put the Mustangs up by four. Adams scored eight of her 12 points in the last period to help SMU outscore the Pirates 12-9 in the fourth quarter.

Leading 17-13 after the end of the first period, ECU outscored the Mustangs 20-13 in the second quarter to take a three-point lead at the half. The Mustangs rallied in the third quarter, scoring 12 points taking a 44-36 lead and held the Pirates to just three points over a 6:49 span. Kiara Perry anchored the run, scoring eight consecutive points for the Mustangs in 2:02 minutes. The Mustangs never trailed to the Pirates again.

Froling earned her 16th double-double of the season, breaking the SMU single season record for most double-doubles in one season. Adams scored in double-digits for the 21st time this season. Perry finished with 14 points, four rebounds and four steals, marking her eighth game this season scoring in double figures. Morgan Bolton added seven points and four rebounds.

SMU faces No. 3-seed USF Saturday at 8 p.m. ET/ 7 ET in the quarterfinals of the AAC Championship on ESPN3.