SMU Women Rally To Beat Temple

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DALLAS (SMU) – Keena Mays scored 30, Akil Simpson added 23 with 12 rebounds and the Mustangs used a late 17-0 run to defeat the Temple Owls, 85-75, at Moody Coliseum on Saturday afternoon.

Simpson’s double-double is her eighth of the year, and Mays reached 30 points for the third time this season. SMU is now 14-7 (5-5 The American), while Temple fell to 10-11 (4-6).

The Mustangs trailed 64-58 with 8:36 left in the game, but then proceeded to go on a 17-0 run over the next 6:05 to take control of the contest. The run was accentuated by a four-point play by Mays with 6:40 remaining, after the senior was fouled as she made a three from the left wing. The play gave SMU a 66-64 lead, and SMU would lead by 11 with less than three minutes to go. Back-to-back three-pointers by the Owls would cut SMU’s lead to five, 80-75, with 39 seconds remaining, but Temple was not able to get any closer.

SMU trailed by three at halftime, 44-41, after Temple had led by as many as 11. Kiara Perry

converted on a three-point play to pull the Mustangs to within one with 19 seconds left in the period, but Temple’s Erica Covile was able to get to the free throw line with less than one second on the clock to get the Owls’ lead back to three. The Mustangs led by seven at 13-6 just over five minutes into the game, but the Owls responded with an 18-4 run to take a 24-17 lead by the 9:22 mark of the half.

Temple made 76.2 percent of their shots in the first half, but only converted on 35.7 percent in the second frame. SMU scored 26 points off 20 Temple turnovers, and also scored 19 second-chance points off 16 offensive rebounds.

Perry scored 11 points to be SMU’s third player with double-figure scoring. Simpson also recorded three blocks and Mays picked up five assists and three steals. Four Owls scored 10-plus points, led by 18 from Tyonna Williams, who was six-of-nine from three-point land.

The Mustangs will return to the hardwood on Tuesday as they visit No. 1 Connecticut for a 6 p.m. CT tipoff. The meeting will mark the first time SMU has ever faced a top-ranked team.

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