ESPN's Take on SMU WBB
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 10:36 amNo one in Conference USA had been able to conquer UTEP all season long -- until the Mustangs upset the Miners in the league's tournament final. Now, SMU is dancing for the first time in eight years and hoping to add to a school-record 24 victories.
Six players average at least 7.4 points and 10 players average at least 10 minutes. But for all that balance, it's probably a safe bet to say SMU's fate will likely depend on Sharee Shepherd and Janielle Dodds and whether they can continue to build on their career years.
Dodds, a senior post, holds SMU career records in points (1,846), rebounds (969) and made free throws (960). She averages a team-high 15.0 ppg on 49 percent shooting and a team-best 7.6 rpg. Her 38 career double-doubles help pace an offense that ranks 25th in the nation in scoring at 73.6 points pre game.
Still, for all that offense, SMU completely disrupted UTEP in the C-USA title game, and Shepherd is the anchor of a defense that harasses opponents into an average of 19.5 turnovers and holds foes to 28.5 percent shooting from 3-point range. Shepherd, a senior forward and the C-USA defensive player of the year, has made 98 steals for an SMU single-season record. She also had the cool and confident hand in the league final, hitting all 12 of her free throws to set a C-USA championship game record and wipe out UTEP's 23-game win streak.
Sophomore forward Delisha Wills is the team's second-leading scorer (12.3 ppg) and third-leading rebounder (5.2 rpg). Jillian Samuels provides the long-range threat, hitting 68 of her 98 field goals from beyond the arc, where she shoots 38 percent.
SMU, which hung tight against Texas A&M in the season opener, played four overtime games this season, going 2-2 (including a loss to UTEP). But rebounding might be the weakness that catches up to the Mustangs, who average -- and give up -- 40 boards.
Six players average at least 7.4 points and 10 players average at least 10 minutes. But for all that balance, it's probably a safe bet to say SMU's fate will likely depend on Sharee Shepherd and Janielle Dodds and whether they can continue to build on their career years.
Dodds, a senior post, holds SMU career records in points (1,846), rebounds (969) and made free throws (960). She averages a team-high 15.0 ppg on 49 percent shooting and a team-best 7.6 rpg. Her 38 career double-doubles help pace an offense that ranks 25th in the nation in scoring at 73.6 points pre game.
Still, for all that offense, SMU completely disrupted UTEP in the C-USA title game, and Shepherd is the anchor of a defense that harasses opponents into an average of 19.5 turnovers and holds foes to 28.5 percent shooting from 3-point range. Shepherd, a senior forward and the C-USA defensive player of the year, has made 98 steals for an SMU single-season record. She also had the cool and confident hand in the league final, hitting all 12 of her free throws to set a C-USA championship game record and wipe out UTEP's 23-game win streak.
Sophomore forward Delisha Wills is the team's second-leading scorer (12.3 ppg) and third-leading rebounder (5.2 rpg). Jillian Samuels provides the long-range threat, hitting 68 of her 98 field goals from beyond the arc, where she shoots 38 percent.
SMU, which hung tight against Texas A&M in the season opener, played four overtime games this season, going 2-2 (including a loss to UTEP). But rebounding might be the weakness that catches up to the Mustangs, who average -- and give up -- 40 boards.