SMU’s Keena Mays pulls up for a jumper while playing for Kansas. (DFWCollegesports.com)

SMU is 12-4 (4-0 in Conference USA) boasting a four game winning streak, the Mustangs best start since the 1999-2000 season.

While the Mustangs were rolling well before winter break, the emergence of a particular player has set the Mustangs up for go on a serious run for the NCAA Tournament.

The Mustangs have found a star in Junior Transfer Keena Mays, who was named Conference USA Player of the week for the second time this season, becoming eligible in mid-December.

After only three games as a mustang, Mays found herself named Madness C-USA player of the week by College sports Madness and was awarded Conference USA Player of the week. Mays is averaging 21.2 points a game as a Mustang and her solid offensive output has helped SMU to its first 4-0 start to the conference season since 1999.

Last Sunday, Mays hit a career high six 3-pointers against Rice. Mays has played in nine games thus far and has hit 20 or more points six times. SMU leads conference USA in field goal percentage (43.4), and 3-point field goal percentage (45.3).

The Arlington native comes to the Mustangs after spending her freshman year as a guard for Kansas. As a freshman she played in all 34 games with 13 starts. Mays averaged 7.1 points and 3.0 rebounds a game. She was second on the team with 119 assists- averaging 3.5 per game.

In high school, Mays led Mansfield Timberview to the 2010 4A State championship. She was a three-time All-State selection by the Texas Girls Coaches Association.

Senior guard Alisha Filmore is averaging 12.5 points per game, she is shooting 36 percent from the field with 2.5 assists per game. The duo of Mays and Filmore are hitting nearly 40 percent of their three point shots.

While Filmore and Mays are obvious scoring machines, SMU is spreading the wealth around with at least four Mustangs scoring 10 points or more in each of their last two games.

The Mustangs play their next game at Tulsa Sunday at 2 p.m. Tulsa is 6-11 (1-3 in C-USA) and is averaging 64.5 points per game and is allowing 62.6 points a game. Tulsa is lead by Senior guard Taleya Mayberry who is averaging 19.1 points per game with 38 percent shooting average.

On paper the Mustangs should have no problem dealing with Tulsa as long as they execute early. The Golden Hurricanes have only out scored their opponents by an average of 3.7 points in the first half. Point being-they let teams hang around and then give up leads in the second. Tulsa has been consistently average for the season and have faded late in games. If the Mustangs can come out shooting the ball well and play SMU basketball, Tulsa should drop to 1-4 in C-USA and The Mustangs can extend their win streak to five games.

SMU will return to Moody to host Houston on January 31.