SMU Women Fall 64-53 To UTEP In C-USA Opener Thursday Night
DALLAS (SMU) – Akil Simpson led SMU with 15 points, and Heidi Brandenburg matched her career-high with 11 points, but it wasn’t enough as UTEP took a 64-53 victory in Moody Coliseum Thursday night in the Conference USA opener for each team.
Simpson was 6-of-9 from the field to lead the Mustangs (7-7, 0-1 C-USA), and Brandenburg was 4-of-5, including 2-of-3 from 3-point range. Gloria Brown reached double-figures for the ninth time in 14 games, leading UTEP (12-2, 1-0 C-USA) with 17 points and 11 rebounds.
SMU charged out to a six-point lead, 11-5, over the first four minutes, behind eight points from Brandenburg, who opened the game with a season-high eight points in her first start of the season, and Akil Simpson went 5-of-6 from the field for 10 first half points.
However, it was UTEP holding a one-point lead, 28-27, at halftime, led by 10 points from Kelli Willingham and nine points and seven rebounds by Gloria Brown. SMU shot 37.0-percent from the field, while UTEP made 36.7-percent of its shots.
The Mustangs scored the first six points of the second half to take a five-point lead, but
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the Miners took the lead back with 16:01 remaining and never trailed again. UTEP stretched the lead to as many as seven, but SMU rallied to get within two points with 3:10 left, but Melisa Mendes stole the ball before the Mustangs were able to get an attempt to tie the game. UTEP scored on the ensuing possession and hit seven free throws in the final 1:28 to take the win.
The Mustangs finished the game shooting 35.2-percent from the field to UTEP’s 36.7-percent, scoring 11 field goals each half to SMU’s 19 total field goals. Each team shot 66.7-percent from the free throw line, with UTEP hitting 16-of-24 attempts and SMU making 12-of-18.
SMU travels to Houston, Texas to take on Rice in its first conference road test of the season. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. in Tudor Fieldhouse. The next home game is Jan. 12 at 7 p.m. as the Mustangs welcome Houston into Moody Coliseum.
