Women's basketball knocks off Memphis, 81-73

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

SMU Ties Second-Highest Shooting Percentage In Program History In Win Over Memphis

DALLAS (SMU)- Behind Chantae Embry's career-high 26 points, the SMU women's basketball team defeated Memphis 81-73 on Saturday afternoon in Moody Coliseum.
SMU shot 62.5% (30-48) from the field, tying the second-best shooting performance in program history and the best in Moody Coliseum.

Embry's 26 led SMU's (11-11; 5-6 American Athletic Conference) four double-digit scorers. Embry added three rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and a steal. Tiara Young finished with 11 points, four rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Reagan Bradley scored 14 points and passed out eight assists, and Amirah Abdur-Rahim logged 13 points, five rebounds, three blocks, and two assists.

TK Pitts scored eight points, grabbed five rebounds, and added two assists and two blocks, and Maya Chandler turned in seven points, four assists, and three steals. Jiya Perry chipped in two points and two rebounds.

SMU countered an early Memphis three-pointer with an 8-0 run. The Mustangs finished the quarter making seven of their nine attempts from the field, including triples from Embry, Young, and Chandler, to lead 21-16 after the first quarter.

The Mustangs' strong shooting performance continued as they forced a Memphis timeout after starting the second quarter on a 10-3 run. Memphis made its last four field goals of the half to cut their deficit to six at halftime. SMU shot 68% (17-25) from the field and 67% (4-6) from the three-point line in the first half.

The Tigers climbed within one in the third, but SMU countered with eight straight points to take a 57-48 lead and force a Memphis timeout halfway through the period. Bradley and Young each converted and-one layups to extend the lead back to double digits. The Tigers made another run, but Embry drilled her second triple of the night to give SMU an eight-point lead entering the fourth.

SMU held Memphis without a field goal for half the fourth quarter to help seal the victory.

NEXT GAME
at North Texas– Saturday, Feb. 10– 2 p.m. CT- The Super Pit
TV: ESPN+
Radio: KAAM 770 AM I Audio Streaming: SMU App (Google Play | Apple App Store)

NOTES
Starters vs Memphis: #13 Reagan Bradley, #1 Tiara Young, #10 Maya Chandler, #33 Chantae Embry, #23 Amirah Abdur-Rahim
Fourth time with this starting lineup, 3-1 record with this lineup
SMU is 9-5 in Moody Coliseum
SMU recorded more assists than its opponent for the 12th time this season. SMU averages 14.9 assists per game (2nd AAC)
SMU recorded its second most assists of the season
24—vs. Alabama State, 11/11/23
21—vs. Memphis, 2/3/24
20—vs. UC Riverside (11/6/23)
SMU All-Time Shooting Percentage List
62.9%-- vs. Houston, 2/25/95
62.5%-- vs. Memphis, 2/3/24
62.5%--San Jose State, 3/3/00
SMU All-Time Shooting Percentage List (Moody Coliseum)
62.5%-- vs. Memphis (2/3/24)
61.7%-- vs. Baylor (2/20/89)
SMU Season Shooting Percentage List (2023-24)
62.5%-- vs. Memphis (2/3/24)
60.8%--vs. Air Force, 12/21/23
56.3%--vs. Alabama State (11/11/2023)
SMU shot 75% from the field in the second quarter, tying the second highest shooting percentage in a quarter this year
2nd quarter, vs. Air Force, 80% I 12/21/23
2nd quarter, vs. Memphis, 75% I 2/3/24
4th quarter, at La Tech, 75% I 12/14/23
SMU blocked more shots than its opponent for the 12th time this season
SMU outshot its opponent from the field for the 15th time this season. SMU entered the afternoon shooting 43.1% from the field (2nd AAC)
SMU scored more fast break points than its opponent for the 11th time this season
SMU scored more points in the paint for the 14th time this season
SMU has tallied eight plus steals in 13 out of the last 15 games and 16 times total
SMU recorded 10 plus steals for the eighth time this season
Chantae Embry turned in SMU's ninth 20+ point performance this season
Four Mustangs scored in double figures for the sixth time this season and third straight game
SERIES HISTORY
Saturday was the 28th meeting between the two programs. SMU leads the all-time series 18-10
ADDITIONAL INDIVIDUAL NOTES
Chantae Embry (#33, Jr., F)
26 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks, 1 steal
Career-high 26 points
Scored double-digit points for the 11th time this season and fifth game in a row
Tied career-high with two blocks
Second 20+ point game of the season
Tiara Young (#1 Gr., G)
11 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, 2 steals
Scored double-digit points for the 20th time in 22 games. Averages 18.4 points per game (4th AAC)
Went 2-2 from the free throw line. Entered the night with the fourth most free throw attempts in the nation (148), and had 105 points from the charity stripe (2nd AAC, 9th NCAA)
Reagan Bradley (#13, Gr., G)
14 points, 3 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals
Made her 107th start at SMU
Scored double-digit points for the 13th time this season
Recorded her 400th assist. Needed five entering the afternoon
Scored 12 plus points for the eighth time in 10 games
Passed out five plus assists for the sixth time this season. Entered the night averaging 3.7 per game (7th AAC)
Amirah Abdur-Rahim (#23, Sr., F)
13 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 blocks, 1 steal
Scored double-digit points for the 14th time this season
Ninth game with three plus blocks. Entered the night averaging 1.8 blocks per game (1st AAC, 46th NCAA)
TK Pitts (#2, So., G)
8 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks
Grabbed five plus rebounds for the 10th time this season
Tied career-high 2 blocks
Maya Chandler (#10, Sr., G)
7 points, 1 rebound, 4 assists, 3 steals, 1 block
Season-high four assists
Season-high three steals
Tied season-high with one block