Filmore's Free Throws Lift Ponies Past UTEP (includes VIDEO)

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

Filmore's Free Throws Lift Mustangs To 81-79 Victory Over UTEP Sunday
Day, Elliott score 17 points each to lead SMU

Jan. 23, 2011

DALLAS (SMU) - Alisha Filmore hit a pair of free-throws with 2.6 seconds left to give the Mustangs an 81-79 victory over UTEP Sunday afternoon in Moody Coliseum. SMU improved to 10-8, 3-2 in Conference USA, while UTEP fell to 11-7, 3-3 in C-USA.

Filmore finished with 14 points, and was one of four Mustangs in double-figures. Haley Day scored a season-high 17 points, going 3-for-3 from 3-point range to lead SMU in scoring. Christine Elliott also scored 17 points. Both Day and Elliott grabbed seven rebounds for the Mustangs. Samantha Mahnesmith finished with 10 points, reaching double-figures for the fifth-straight game.

SMU led by 15 points with just under 13 minutes left in the game when Delisha Wills picked up her fourth foul and went to the bench. The Miners started to chip away at the lead. With 7:44 left on the clock and the Mustangs up 12, Elliott picked up her fourth foul and went to the bench. After a layup by Akil Simpson, UTEP went on a 12-0 run over two and a half minutes to cut the lead to one, 68-67 with 5:09 left to play.

Elliott and Wills returned to the floor a short time later, but an emotional foul-out by Wills gave the Miners six free-throws. Kelli Willingham hit 3-of-4 and Kayla Thornton made 1-of-2 to give UTEP a 71-70 lead with 4:20 on the clock.

The Mustangs had a four-point lead with 28 seconds left erased by UTEP, tying the game with 11 seconds left on the clock. Filmore brought the ball down the floor and drove to the basket, drawing a foul to allow her to shoot the game winning free-throws with less than three seconds on the clock.

SMU finished the game shooting 58.3-percent (28-of-48) from the field, including 8-for-13 from beyond the arc (61.5-percent). Willingham scored 16 points to lead the Miners, who shot 50.8-percent as a team (30-of-59), and went 9-for-21 on 3-point attempts (42.9-percent).

The Mustangs' next game is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 27, against Southern Miss in Hattiesburg, Miss. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.

[ponyte]

Congrats to the Ladies. It seems lately they have played well. Perhaps they are turning a corner this season and making a conference run?

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

Awesome - great job Mustangs! Those are some clutch free pitches.