Baker's long-range shooting leads SMU past UCF (with VIDEO)

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

Baker Scores Career High To Lead SMU To 69-54 Win Over UCF
Mustangs improved to 11-4 with third straight win; 2-0 in C-USA

Jan. 13, 2013

Rhonda Rompola Postgame Interview

DALLAS (SMU) - Korina Baker scored a career-high 17 points, going 5-of-7 on 3-point attempts, leading SMU to a 69-54 win against UCF in Moody Coliseum Sunday afternoon. Baker was one of four players to score at least ten points as the Mustangs improved to 11-4 on the season and 2-0 in Conference USA for the first time since 2006-07, remaining undefeated at home against the Knights with the fifth win in Dallas.

Destynee Hives-McCray finished the game with 12 points and seven rebounds, Alisha Filmore scored 11 points, and freshman Gabrielle Wilkins added 10, reaching double digits for the fourth time this season. Keena Mays, who was double teamed all game, was held to just six points, but grabbed seven rebounds and passed out six assists in the win. Akil Simpson nearly gave the Mustangs five players in double figures for the first time since November 2010, finishing with nine points and four rebounds. Baker also had four assists, two rebounds and two steals.

After falling behind 7-4 over the first seven minutes of the game, the Mustangs went on 17-2 run over nearly eight minutes to take a 24-9 lead with 4:59 left in the first half. The Knights (6-10, 0-2 C-USA) never got within 10 points the rest of the game, and SMU, which led by 15 at halftime, stretched the lead to as many as 24 in the second half.

The Mustangs finished the game shooting 43.3 percent from the field, 26-of-60, and 43.8 percent from behind the arc, 7-of-16, while holding the Knights to just 29.4 percent on 3-point attempts, 5-of-17, and 36.4 percent from the floor, 20-of-55. Gevenia Carter led UCF with 19 points, but SMU held Briahanna Jackson, the league's 10th leading scorer with 14.9 points per game, to eight points on 2-of-14 shooting from the field. SMU out-rebounded the Knights 43-33, and recorded assists on 23 of 26 field goals.

SMU gets back on the road for a Thursday night matchup against Southern Miss in Hattiesburg, Miss. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. The Mustangs next home game is Sunday against in-state rival Rice at 2 p.m. For tickets, call 214-SMU-GAME or visit SMUMustangs.com.

[Roach]

Was the team standing back and watching Mays too much? Great to see others step up.

Go Mustangs!