SMU at home against Rice

[mustangbill67]

La La was the key player in the run that put this game away. She is a confident player that knows how to run Rhonda's offense and score. She and Haley Day are going to be something by the time they are finished.

[mustangxc]

It is nice to keep the streak alive. Hopefully we can run the table the rest of the regular season, taking one game at a time! I think 24 wins gets us back to the tournament.

We are 14-7 now with 8 games remaining not including the conference tournament

I know, I really think we can only afford 1 more loss the rest of the season in order to be considered for an at large. Either win out and lose in the CUSA tournament final or just win the tournament.

[Tipoff96]

Southern Miss defeated ECU today - sets up the big show-down for next Thursday!

[George S. Patton]

A very methodical win by the ladies today. Enjoyed watching the chemistry and the trust in person. Great balance in scoring. La La continues to play well. But we need Samuels to get going.

I never really felt like they were in jeopardy of losing this game just because they were so much better than Rice.

I liked the fact the Rhonda could put some reserves in the final 5 minutes for experience. No. 32 -- I'm blanking on her name -- but she's the 6-1 kid from Mesquite. 8 points not bad.

Took care of the basketball pretty well. Just took care of business.

Nice to have a breather after some tight games.

So. Miss game is on CBS CTV next Thursday. Great stuff. Good luck, ladies. Nice crowd that included Dr. Turrner.

[mustangbill67]

Orsini was there as well. Guess he could not bear to listen to men's game.

[smupony94]

Women's basketball: SMU 68, Rice 52

10:59 PM CST on Saturday, January 31, 2009

By BOBBI ROQUEMORE / The Dallas Morning News
[email protected]

UNIVERSITY PARK – For a while, SMU played right into Rice's hands.

The helter-skelter pace threw the Mustangs out of step and kept the Owls in the game much longer than expected Saturday afternoon at Moody Coliseum.

But SMU recovered and, thanks to a balanced effort, overwhelmed Rice in a 68-52 victory. The Mustangs have won six consecutive games.

"Rice is hungry for a win, and we knew they were going to give us their best shot and give us everything they had," SMU coach Rhonda Rompola said. "We finally started playing better team ball in the second half. We made some plays defensively that got our transition game going.

"Quite honestly, it took threatening them with 6 a.m. practice to really get them going."

Rice (5-16, 0-8 C-USA), which has lost 10 consecutive games, briefly led late in the first half and threatened to take over again early in the second, when guard Tara Wallace hit a 3-pointer to cut the Mustangs' lead to 36-35.

However, SMU (14-7, 7-1) unleashed a 17-0 run, highlighted by five consecutive points from freshman center Christine Elliott.

"We got back to doing what we do, which is playing defense, getting our hands on the ball, getting loose balls, getting on the glass and running out in transition," sophomore guard LaShandra Hill said.

Four players reached double figures for the Mustangs. Junior guard/forward Brittany Gilliam had 14 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals. Elliott had 11 points and nine rebounds. Hill and junior forward Delisha Wills had 10 each.

Rompola went to her bench throughout the second half, and the reserves made the most of their time on the court. Freshman forward Alicia Mitcham had nine points, seven rebounds and a block in 12 minutes.

Rompola said the Mustangs have benefited from their depth. Last season, SMU seemed predictable, with former center Janielle Dodds involved in just about every critical play.

"You really can't prepare for one player," Rompola said. "Last year, everybody in Moody Coliseum knew we were going to J.D."

SMU begins a three-game road trip Thursday at Southern Miss in a battle for first place in Conference USA.

[Peruna88]

No. 32 -- I'm blanking on her name

Alicia Mitchum

[Higher Authority]

Terrific win in front of a terrific crowd. Let's be honest, the first half was kind of ugly - we played a little sloppy, and Rice is dying for a win and got a boost with the return of their little stud point guard (who can NOT be as tall as the 5-0 she's listed at). We ground them down, and pulled away a little in the second half.

Six in a row is nice, but we've got a huge game on Thursday at Southern Miss. Both teams tied for No. 1 in CUSA. Isn't it on TV somewhere? How cool is that? SMU playing on TV to take the lead in the conference?

KICK SOME EAGLE BUTT, PONIES!