WBB falls to Memphis in AAC tournament

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

Mustangs Fall To Memphis, 71-59, In AAC Tournament
Short Nets Career-High 17 Points In Final Game Of Career

March 6, 2015

UNCASVILLE, Conn. (SMU) -- The SMU women's basketball team, seeded tenth, fell to seventh-seeded Memphis, 71-59, in the opening round of the American Athletic Conference tournament on Friday night at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

SMU (7-23, 3-15 The American) was led by senior Raven Short, who scored a career-high 17 points in her final game as a Mustang. Short shot 50 percent from the field and netted a career-high five three-pointers. Short's five triples were the most by any Mustang in a game this season.

Memphis (14-16, 7-11 The American) carried a 37-27 lead into halftime behind 10 first half points from Ariel Hearn. The junior guard finished with a game-high 24 points on 10-of-12 shooting.

A late SMU run, capped by a Short three, cut the Tigers' lead to 62-55 with 3:33 to go, but Memphis would hold on to pull out the victory.

Destynee Hives-McCray added 12 points and nine boards for the Mustangs, while Alicia Froling, who was named to the conference's all-freshmen team on Thursday, also reached double figures with 10 points and eight rebounds.

Morgan Bolton and Gabrielle Wilkins made an impact on the defensive end, tallying season highs with six and four steals, respectively. Bolton's six steals were also an SMU best this season.

[ponyte]

Really tough year for the Lady Stangs. I hope they improve in the off season. It wasn't
T that long ago they were a pretty good team and there is no reason they can't return to that.

[Rebel10]

I think Hart is going to have to look at making a change. They are in a better conference now and can not afford to do things the same way.

[CA Mustang]

From the games I heard online, it seemed like they had a hard time handling the press. Pressing teams forced them into turnovers which led to easy scores. I'm not sure why they had that problem specifically (need better point guards?), but it seems like they never solved it during the season.

I think Hart is going to have to look at making a change.

Normally I'd assume her 24 years of work at the school are enough to survive one bad season. Does Hart plan to view EVERY program on a "what have you done lately" basis?

[Rebel10]

They were on the down slide last year as well. They were 8-10 in conference and had a cakewalk non conference schedule last year. This year they were even worse in conference. The downside has been noticeable.

[ALEX LIFESON]

Do want this to be a top tier program? If not, just keep making excuses, it is what it is.

[CA Mustang]

They were on the down slide last year as well. They were 8-10 in conference and had a cakewalk non conference schedule last year. This year they were even worse in conference. The downside has been noticeable.

True, but for WBB the AAC is a LOT tougher than CUSA so some backslide should have been expected. You can't join a league with UConn, Louisville, etc. and proceed as if nothing changed.

I guess it comes down to if Hart believes RR can reverse the trend. If not: 1) Who can be hired to do it? and 2) How much is the AD willing to invest in the change?

Do want this to be a top tier program? If not, just keep making excuses, it is what it is.

Are you willing to invest in creating a top tier program?

[Lebanese4Life]

Yikes 7-23.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

I know youth and inexperience is a standard excuse aroumd here, but with the incoming class I am OK with one more year.