Women's basketball hosts Central Florida this Thursday

[PonyPride]

Women’s basketball to host UCF Thursday at Moody Coliseum
Ponies hope to end four-game skid
Jan. 30, 2007

DALLAS (SMU) - After an 0-3 road swing, the Mustangs are thrilled to be back at Moody Coliseum – be it for only one game – where they tend to play some of their best basketball with the hopes of snapping their four-game winless streak. SMU comes into Thursday’s game with a record of 11-9 (3-5 C-USA), while UCF posts a 6-15 record (1-7 C-USA). Tip-off is slated for 7:00 p.m. and will be broadcast live on KKGM-Radio (1630AM).
UCF comes to Dallas in nearly the same situation, having lost seven of its last eight games. SMU is 8-2 at home while the Golden Knights sport a 1-8 road record. Both teams look to climb up the league standings ladder. SMU holds the ninth spot while UCF is 11th.

Scouting UCF...
Under the direction of eighth-year head coach Gail Striegler, UCF returns two starters from last season’s 7-21 squad which finished 11th in the 2005-06 C-USA standings. As a team, UCF shoots 36.9% from the field (26.5% behind the three-point arc) and scores 57.2 points per game. UCF opponents shoot nearly 43% from the field and scores 63.5 points per game.
Individually, the Golden Knights are led by seniors Francine Houston (12.2 ppg/30.3 minutes per game) and Keunta Miles (12.0 ppg/6.7 rpg). Teammate Celeste Hudson recorded her 1,000th career points this past Sunday at Tulane.
Series History with the Golden Knights...
Thursday marks the second meeting between SMU and UCF, with the Mustangs beating the Golden Knights by the score of 69-57 last February in Orlando. Janielle Dodds and Sharee Shepherd each scored 16 points in the Mustang win.

Pony Tales...
** Freshman guard Jillian Samuels has already made her mark in the Mustang freshman season records. The Mesquite, Texas, native currently ranks second in three-point field goals made (37) and three-point field goal attempts (107). Former Pony Andrea Cossey holds the SMU freshman season records in both of those categories (53 three-pointers/150 three-point field goal attempts).

In addition, Samuels’ 15 three-point field goal attempts at Houston set a Mustang individual game record. The previous mark of 12 three-point field goal attempts was set three times (Kaira White vs. Louisiana Tech on Feb. 21, 2004; Andrea Cossey vs. Alabama on Dec. 21, 2001; and Suzanne McAnally vs. Baylor on March 9, 1990).

** If SMU's season ended today, the Mustangs would set a season record for free throw percentage (76.4%). The standing record is 74.9% set at the close of the 1994-95 season.

** Coming into Thursday’s game, junior Janielle Dodds totals 1,195 career points, ranking her 11th on SMU’s all-time scoring list. She needs 12 points to move into 10th, surpassing Andrea Cossey's 1,206 career points.

[abezontar]

I plan on being there and doing my free throw booty dance. Warning to those in attendance: My booty has gotten considerably larger since graduation so you may want to leave a few seats of clearance if you sit near me. i would hate for someone to get smacked with it.

[BrianTinBigD]

Maybe the Athletic Department can run a promotion where they pay us to watch the girls and eat last years left over football popcorn. Maybe we can get more than 100 people to show up.

[abezontar]

I thought that is what they were offering in the hospitality suite at the men's games

[2112]

against a 1-7 ucf team, the girls can win this one.

[smupony94]

against a 1-7 ucf team, the girls can win this one.

Um, don't be too confident

[Dark Horse]

Can AND WILL win this one.

Go Ponies!

[Bigtime41]

The ladies have been through a tuff stretch where they lost some games they should have won and Thursday they need our support to get back on the winning trail. During this stretch the Freshmen have gotten some valuable floor time that should pay off big during the conference tournament. If they can get on a good roll they could still finish in the top 4 slots. It starts tomorrow night. Everyone come out and support the Lady Ponies! Go Lady Mustangs!!

[DallasDiehard]

You're right on, 41. The freshmen have really come on lately -- Severin and Wills have been solid from the start, but now Samuels and Gilliam are contributing more, too. Samuels, all of a sudden, is drilling 3s all over the place. Gilliam is a slasher and good defender when she moves her feet. Wills is an all-around stud-in-training, and when Dodds went through a mental skid for a while, Severin has been our most consistent low-post player.

Now Katy Cobb is back from her injury, and that allows Coach Rompola another valuable player off the bench.

Time to turn the corner, Ponies. Play smart and aggressively on defense, and go after every rebound like your life depends on it, and you're going to kill UCF Thursday night!

Anyone know when Shepherd is going to be back?

GO MUSTANGS!

[Peruna88]

Where were you guys when Alex and 2112 were beating me up last week?

[abezontar]

studying

[The XtC]

Sharee was cleared to practice today (Wednesday) and will be available for the UCF game.

[PonyFan]

Glad Shepherd is back -- the SMU defense should be much-improved with her back in the lineup. Does anyone know if she's going to start?

Go Ponies! Beat the hell out of UCF!

[Dark Horse]

See you at Moody tonight -- GO MUSTANGS!