WBB pitches shutout in fourth quarter, rallies past NAU

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

Fourth-Quarter Comeback Vaults Mustangs Past Northern Arizona

LOS ANGELES (SMU) – The Mustangs did not allow a fourth-quarter point as they completed a comeback victory, 55-48, against Northern Arizona in the final of the LMU Thanksgiving Classic on Saturday.

Trailing by 13 heading into the game's final period, the Mustangs (4-3) put together a defensive display forcing the Lumberjacks to miss their final 14 attempts, giving the offense room to make a comeback. By the end of the game, the Mustangs had scored 22 unanswered points. Alicia Froling added nine of her 19 points in the fourth and was named tournament Most Valuable Player for her effort. Froling recorded her fifth double-double of the season in the victory with 12 rebounds while also adding four blocks.

Northern Arizona (4-2) held the advantage after the first half of play from Loyola Marymount's Gersten Pavilion. The Lumberjacks outscored the Mustangs 26-16 at the break and extended their lead in the third. The Mustangs trailed by as many as 16 in the third but a NAU jump shot with 55 seconds left in the period would prove to be the final points SMU would allow in the game.

Amber Bacon was named to the All-Tournament team along with Froling. The freshman scored 20 points across the two games while also recording six steals and nine assists. Bacon led the Mustangs with five assists in Saturday's game.

Off the bench, Johnasia Cash had a game-high 13 rebounds in 18 minutes of floor time. The second-year forward added six points including the game-tying free throws in the fourth quarter.

In the decisive fourth quarter, the Mustangs didn't turn it over once and forced six Northern Arizona turnovers. They out-rebounded NAU 47-39, collected 18 offensive boards and forced 23 turnovers.

The Mustangs return to their home floor on Wednesday as North Texas rolls into Moody Coliseum for a 7 p.m. tipoff.