Women's Basketball Earns Shot At C-USA Title Saturday Afternoon
Feb. 26, 2009
DALLAS (SMU) - Freshman center Christine Elliott tied the SMU record for rebounds in a game and notched her third double-double of the season, and sophomore guard/forward Haley Day had her second double-double of the season to lead the SMU women's basketball team to a 61-49 victory Thursday night over Conference USA rival Tulane at Moody Coliseum. The victory improves the Mustangs' record to 18-10 overall and 11-4 in Conference USA games. Southern Miss and UTEP both won Thursday night to improve to 11-4, meaning that if SMU can beat the Miners in Saturday's 2 p.m. showdown with UTEP at Moody Coliseum, the Mustangs will earn at least a share of the conference championship. Elliott was dominant inside for the Mustangs, who outscored the Green Wave, 30-22 in the paint. Elliott scored 16 points on 8-of-11 shooting and pulled down 21 rebounds, tying the 22-year-old SMU record for rebounds in a single game set by Felicia Bluitt in 1986 against TCU. Elliott, who established a new career high with 12 rebounds by halftime Thursday night, also tied five other players for the second-highest number of rebounds ever posted by a player in a Conference USA game, falling one short of the all-time C-USA record. Day scored the Mustangs' first seven points of the game and finished with career highs in points (20), field goals (6) and rebounds (14) to notch her second double-double of the season and her career - both have come against Tulane. Day hit 6-of-11 shots from the floor and 7-of-10 from the free throw line to lead all scorers in the game. Between them, Day and Elliott collected 35 rebounds - one short of the total posted by the entire Green Wave team, as the Mustangs enjoyed a 48-36 rebounding advantage on the glass. The Mustangs and Miners will meet Saturday for the fifth time in the last two seasons. UTEP won both regular-season matchups last season, but SMU beat the Miners (who were ranked No. 18 in the country at the time) in the Conference USA Championship title game in Orlando to claim the tournament crown; both teams earned berths in the 2008 NCAA Tournament. The teams met for the first time this season Jan. 24 in El Paso. Junior forward Delisha Wills had a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Mustangs to a 70-64 victory over the Miners, their 18th win in 25 meetings all-time against UTEP. For ticket information, log on to SMUMustangs.com or call 214-SMU-GAME. The 2009 Conference USA Women's Basketball Championship is set to get underway on March 5-8 in New Orleans. For the past 13 years the league has awarded the championship trophy to eight different outstanding teams. Fans may purchase their tickets in advance by going through the SMU ticket office (214-SMU-GAME) or Tulane Athletics at tulanegreenwave.com or 504-861-WAVE. General admission all-session tickets are $50 for adults and $40 for youth, while single-session prices are $10 for adults and $7 for youth.
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