SMU Women Lose To Northern Colorado
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DALLAS (SMU) – Junior forward Destynee Hives-McCray posted a team-high 13 points and added seven rebounds, but SMU fell to Northern Colorado, 57-44, in the season-opener on Friday night at Moody Coliseum.
SMU (0-1) was unable to overcome an early deficit, as Northern Colorado recorded the wire-to-wire victory.
“We’re asking our freshmen to do a lot,” said SMU head coach Rhonda Rompola. “With our unit, it’s going to take time. We’re going to have some growing pains. You can’t dig yourself a hole like this. You just can’t do it.”
Freshman Alicia Froling nearly posted a double-double in her first-career collegiate game. The Queensland, Australia, native finished with nine points and nine boards. Sophomore guard Kiara Perry added nine points and eight rebounds for the Mustangs.
Northern Colorado (1-0) jumped out to a 19-6 lead and never looked back.
Guards D’Shara Strange and Kyliegh Hiser led the Bears, as the duo combined for 27 points. Strange tallied 13 points and added five boards, while Hiser posted a team-high 14 points and seven rebounds.
With Northern Colorado leading 24-8 with eight minutes to go in the first half, the Mustang defense clamped down and held the Bears scoreless for over five minutes. During that stretch, the Mustangs would go on a 7-0 run and make it a single-digit game at 24-15 with 2:53 left in the half.
However, the Bears would put together a late run in the final minutes of the half and pushed their lead to 33-16 at the break.
The Mustangs would make a late push with just over six minutes remaining. Freshman Aurmani DeGar’s three-pointer ignited a 15-3 rally that brought the Mustangs within eight.
“I thought we did some things better defensively in the second half,” said Rompola. “We were pressing and trying to make some defensive plays, trying to create some offense from our defense.”
However, SMU’s run would sputter and Northern Colorado would hold on for the 57-44 victory.
The Mustangs have a quick turnaround, as they return to Moody Coliseum for a showdown with UTEP on Sunday at 2 p.m. CT. For tickets to Sunday’s contest, please visit SMUTickets.com.
