SMU’s Elbie Gates catches an entry pass against the University of Memphis Tigers. (Lindsey Perkins)
The SMU women’s basketball team gathered a handful of records this week in an 84-51 victory over the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Sunday night in Birmingham.
The win marked the women’s fifth consecutive road victory. It’s the first time the team has achieved this since the 1998-99 season – 19 years ago. The Mustangs also improved to a five-game winning streak in the conference, improving their record to 19-6 overall, and 9-3 in the conference to put them at the No. 2 spot in conference polls. SMU is now averaging 74 points per game, and defeating its opponents by a 9.7 point advantage.
The Mustangs have now outscored their opponents by 100 points in their last three games after defeating the University of Memphis and the University of Houston Cougars last week.
SMU senior guard Sharee Shepherd earned a new school record, pulling down nine steals against the Blazers to complement her double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds. Shepherd posted seven steals in the first half, and snagged two in the second half before retreating to the bench for the night.
Shepherd’s last record-setting night came in the form of eight steals on Nov. 20 against TCU when she tied the mark previously reached by SMU alumni Suzanne McAnally, Angela Crooks, Wendy Trusky and current head coach Rhonda Rompola.
Senior post Janielle Dodds closed the gap to breaking deeper into the record books with a double-double, 10 points and 13 rebounds. Dodds needs 59 and 30 rebounds to set two new school records.
SMU saw every player score for the second consecutive game to give 29 points from the bench. Senior guard Katy Cobb led the game with a team and game-high 14 points, while three other Mustangs posted double-digit scores. Sophomore forward Delisha Wills and forward Brittany Gilliam each posted 12 points, with Wills shooting five for nine, and Gilliam draining five of her seven shots.
UAB gained its only lead of the game 20 seconds in to the first half, but a combination of missed shots and surrendered rebounds gave the Mustangs a 26-point advantage at the end of the half.
SMU averaged 47.4 percent in field goals from the line, compared to only 16.1 percent from the Blazers. The Mustangs struggled from behind the arc, going 0-9 in threes in the first half.
The second half swayed in favor of SMU, with the Mustangs gaining a 35-point lead with 4:52 left. Pulling down 40 defensive rebounds against UAB, the Mustangs also improved to shooting 62.5 percent from the field, and combined for a game-total of 42 points in the paint.
The Mustangs will return to Moody Coliseum on Feb. 21 for Senior Day, and to host the 3-9 Rice Owls, followed by a Saturday match up against 8-4 Houston.
