SMU Women Top Houston

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HOUSTON (SMU) – The SMU Mustangs shot a season-high 52.1 percent from the field and received 37 points from their bench to beat the Houston Cougars, 68-51, at the Hofheinz Pavilion on Saturday afternoon.

SMU (6-20, 2-13 The American) was led on offense by freshman Keely Froling, who scored 13 points and added seven rebounds.

Froling scored 11 of her 13 points in the first half, which ended with the Mustangs holding a 10-point lead, 35-25. Houston’s only lead of the contest came less than five minutes in, when the Cougars held a 5-4 advantage. SMU quickly responded with a jumper from Froling, and the Mustangs would not trail from the 14:12 mark of the first half through the rest of the game.

Houston (6-21, 1-15) would tie the game at 15-all with 9:10 to go in the first half, but a pair of made free throws by freshman Aurmani DeGar moments later would restore the Mustangs’ lead and begin a 20-10 run to end the half.

SMU held Houston to just 28.3 percent shooting and outrebounded the Cougars, 38-31. The Mustangs also dominated the paint, outscoring the Cougars 28-12. A trio of SMU forwards did the most damage, with Keely Froling (13), freshman Alicia Froling (nine) and junior Destynee Hives-McCray (10) combining to score 32 points.

Alicia Froling also posted three blocks, while senior Raven Short scored nine points, hitting all three of SMU’s successful three-pointers.

Houston’s lone double-digit scorer was Tyler Gilbert, who scored 10 points to go along with seven rebounds. SMU pulled away in the second half with stingy defense, allowing Houston to make just four field goals in the second half.

SMU senior Rochelle Lauer made her first collegiate start, and totaled two points in seven minutes of action.

SMU will host Temple on Wednesday at 7 p.m. CT at Moody Coliseum.