Women beat rice
Posted: Wed Nov 13, 2019 9:56 pm12 point win and they looked great in the Dallas unis.
VIDEO STILL TO COME
From SMUMustangs.com:
DALLAS (SMU) – BriShonne Tollie scored 19 points as SMU women's basketball topped the Rice Owls, 55-43, on Wednesday night at Moody Coliseum.
Rice (2-1), a 2018-19 NCAA Tournament team, came into the game riding a 20-game regular winning streak, receiving votes in the both national polls and as the reigning Conference USA champions. The Mustangs limited the Owls to 24% from the field and forced 23 turnovers during the stout defensive effort.
SMU (2-0) held Rice to just one bucket in the first 11:17 of the game, stifling the Owls into numerous turnovers. SMU held their largest lead of the first, 11, with four minutes to go in the half. Rice finished the second quarter on a 14-0 run to take a 3-point edge into the break.
The Owls held a four-point lead heading into the final period after another the defensive quarter.
Reagan Bradley had three quick points in the fourth to bring the Mustangs to within one before Amber Bacon gave SMU a lead with a pair of free throws. SMU didn't stop there as they continued to push the lead and held a six-point advantage with a minute remaining. Rice was forced to put the Mustangs at the line late, where Mustangs were able to ice Rice and earn the win. SMU finished the period with 26 points allowing only 10.
Tollie's career game came on both ends of the floor, finishing with career highs in points (19) and rebounds (11) for her first career double-double. The sophomore added a team-high in steals with four.
Johnasia Cash added a career high 14 boards and provided key free throws in the final minute.
Fresh off a conference Freshman of the Week performance in her first game on the Hilltop, Bradley had another strong showing. The Little Rock, Arkansas native dropped eight points and added six boards while leading the team in assists.
Amber Bacon nearly had a double-double finishing the contest with 12 points and nine boards to go along with three steals.
Rice was aided by their strong combo of Erica Ogwumike and Nancy Mulkey. Ogwumike contributed 17 points and eight boards while Mulkey recorded a triple-double with 15 points, 11 rebounds and 11 blocks, a new Moody Coliseum record.
The Mustangs retook the lead in the all-time series 36-35. The home team improves to 47-20 when the two squads match up.
SMU returns to the floor on Saturday as they face off with Northern Colorado at 2 p.m. inside Moody Coliseum.