PonyFans.com VIDEO: Rompola after SMU comeback falls short

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SMU women's basketball head coach Rhonda Rompola visited with PonyFans.com after the Mustangs were edged, 60-57, at North Texas.

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From SMUMustangs.com:

Fourth Quarter Surge Comes Up Short at North Texas
Four Mustangs record double-digit figures for sixth straight game

Dec. 1, 2015

DENTON, Texas (SMU) – McKenzie Adams scored a team-high 16 points, and SMU outscored North Texas 21-13 in the fourth quarter, but the effort was not enough as the SMU women’s basketball team fell, 60-57, at North Texas Tuesday night in The Super Pit.

Trailing 53-41 in the fourth quarter, SMU went on a 12-0 run to tie the game, 53-53. Adams, a 5-9 guard, scored a layup to extend the run to 14-0 and give the Mustangs a 55-53 lead with 3:15 left in the game. North Texas retied the score with just under three minutes to play, before hitting a 3-pointer to take a 58-55 lead with 1:50 left. With SMU forced to foul as time was running out, North Texas made both free throws, stretching the lead to five, 60-55, with 12 seconds left. Ashley Gibson hit a jumper with a second left for the final points of the game.

Four Mustangs scored 10 points or more, led by Adams’ 16, going into double figures for the third straight game. The Arkansas transfer finished the night 7-of-17 from the field, while grabbing four rebounds. Gibson finished with 14 points and three rebounds. Stephanie Collins added 10 points with nine rebounds and five blocks, and Morgan Bolton scored 10, giving the Mustangs four players in double figures in all six games this season.

SMU trailed 30-22 at halftime, but out-scored the Mean Green 11-6 over the first half of the third quarter to cut the deficit to three, 36-33. North Texas answered with an 11-3 run, stretching the lead back to 11 to close the third quarter out front, 47-36.

A slow start on the offensive end of the floor saw SMU trailing 18-11 after the first 10 minutes. Adams hit a three to give the Mustangs a 5-4 lead, but North Texas held SMU scoreless with relentless defensive pressure of the next several minutes, taking a 17-5 lead with a 12-0 run. SMU cut the deficit to seven at the first break, taking advantage of a pair of steals in the closing minute to score four unanswered leading to the buzzer. Points were difficult to find for both teams in the second quarters, with North Texas out-scoring SMU 12-11 in the next 10 minutes.

SMU returns home to face New Mexico Saturday at 5 p.m. in Moody Coliseum. The Mustangs then play five straight on the road, starting Monday at No. 11 Texas A&M in College Station, Texas at 11 a.m.