SMU Women Topple TCU
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DALLAS (SMU) – The SMU women’s basketball team held TCU to its fewest points in 13 years under head coach Jeff Mittie in a 47-38 win in Moody Coliseum Thursday night to improve to 3-0 on the season. TCU fell to 1-2 after scoring the fewest points by an SMU opponent since the Mustangs held San Jose State to 37 points on Jan. 15, 2005.
Despite the tenacious defense on both ends of the floor, three Mustangs finished with double-figures in points, led by senior Christine Elliott who posted her first double-double of the season and 15th of her career with 10 points and 13 rebounds. Senior Samantha Mahnesmith led the team for the second time this year with 12 points, while junior Alisha Filmore had 10 points, seven rebounds and five assists.
The Mustangs trailed just once in the game for just over a minute when Delisa Gross hit a 3-pointer with 9:34 left in the second half to give TCU a 29-27 lead. Filmore hit a layup with 8:22 to go in the game to tie the score and Elliott gave SMU the lead back for good with a layup with 7:37 left to play. A minute later Filmore hit a three to stretch the lead to five and Elliott hit a pair of free throws with 6:02 on the clock to make it a 7-0 run.
TCU cut the lead to three when Natalie Ventress hit three free throws with 1:19 left, but SMU made six free throws, three by Krystal Johnson. Johnson missed her fourth free throw of the final minute, but Elliott grabbed the rebound to help hold TCU scoreless for the final 1:19 to take the win.
SMU opened the game on an 11-2 run, holding the Horned Frogs to just one field goal in the first 6:45 seconds. The Mustangs led by as many as 10 in the first half, but TCU cut the lead to one, 19-18, with 1:31 to go before the break. Mahnesmith hit a pair of free throws and then a turnaround jumper at the buzzer to stretch the lead to five at the half, 23-18.
Johnson finished with six points, and Akil Simpson scored four points with eight rebounds. SMU out-rebounded TCU 47-42, but turned 24 offensive rebounds into 15 second chance points, while the Horned Frogs got just 14 offensive boards for six second chance points.
The Mustangs travel to Denton, Texas for a game against North Texas on Tuesday. SMU will then host its annual Hoops for the Cure Tournament on Nov. 25-26. The Mustangs will open the tournament against Cal State Fullerton on Friday at 6 p.m.
