SMU Women Defeat Florida A&M

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DALLAS (SMU) – Great rebounding and stingy defense led the SMU women’s basketball over Florida A&M, 77-46, on Friday night at Moody Coliseum.

With the win, the Mustangs advance to the championship game of the SMU Thanksgiving Classic. The Mustangs will take on USC, who defeated Sam Houston State, 88-67, tomorrow at 7 p.m. CT.

“I thought our pursuit of the ball on the offensive boards was very good,” said SMU head coach Rhonda Rompola. “We had 59 rebounds. When you don’t hit a high percentage on your first shots, you have to get after the basketball.”

SMU (3-2) held Florida A&M (1-4) to just 13-55 (23.6%) shooting, including a 6-23 (26.1%) clip from beyond the arc. The Mustangs also outrebounded Florida A&M, 59-29.

Behind junior forward Destynee Hives-McCray and freshman forwards Alicia Froling and Taylor Brame, the Mustangs dominated the paint and jumped out to an early 10-0 lead in the first three minutes of action.

Hives-McCray finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds, recording her third double-double this season and the 12th of her career. Froling added 14 points and 10 boards for first career double-double, while Brame also tallied her first with 11 points and 13 rebounds.

SMU would carry a 40-21 lead into halftime after junior guard

Gabrielle Wilkins hit a four-point play with just a few ticks left in the half. They outrebounded the Rattlers 29-11 in the first half and held a 16-2 advantage in points in the paint.

The Mustang defense did not let down in the second half, holding the Rattlers to just 25 points after halftime.

Senior guard Rochelle Lauer, who played six minutes off the bench, scored the first points of her career. Lauer, who began her tenure with the Mustangs as a team manager, was granted a scholarship at the beginning of the season. Within seconds of being in the game, the Avondale, Arizona, native capitalized on a fastbreak for her first career basket.

“I do know USC is strong and physical,” said Rompola about tomorrow’s championship. “We’re going to have to bring our best game.”

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