WBB FINAL: SMU 61 UCF 51
Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2023 3:56 pmWomen are 10-4 overall and 7-0 at home. So great to see solid coaching and talented play that's getting better.
From SMUMustangs.com:
Mustangs Remain Unbeaten At Home
DALLAS (SMU) – SMU rode a big third quarter to a 61-51 win over UCF in American Athletic Conference action Tuesday, running its record at Moody Coliseum to 7-0 on the season.
Trailing 25-24 at the half, the Mustangs (10-4, 1-1) outscored the Knights 23-12 in the third quarter and carried a 10-point advantage into the final frame. The Mustangs ran off nine straight, including five on one possession.
Off an inbound play, Tamia Jones converted a layup despite drawing contact. On her way to the free-throw line, the Knights incurred a technical foul. Following the conclusion of the 3-point play from Jones, Savannah Wilkinson drained both attempts from the stripe, allocating the home side some breathing room at 37-31, with 6:49 to go in the period.
Points in the paint from Chantae Embry and Jones moved the Mustangs margin to 10. Trading points over the remaining 3:37, the home side led 47-37 with 10 minutes to play.
TK Pitts finished at the rim with 7:47 left, nudging SMU to its largest cushion of the contest at 51-39. Trailing by 11 midways through the quarter, the Knights frantic comeback stalled at six with 68 ticks left. The gap ballooned to 12 on a bucket each from Jessica Peterson and Ella Brow, along with a pair of made free throws from Embry.
Embry notched her second-consecutive double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds. Paige Bayliss rejected three field-goal attempts, matching a career-high, while Jones led the team with three steals. Reagan Bradley notched 12 points and a game-high five assists, while Wilkinson added eight points, six boards and three blocks.
The Mustangs travel to the Volunteer State Friday for a 7 p.m., tipoff at Memphis, the first of two regular-season meetings with the Tigers.