Feb. 1, 2011

SMU TAKES ON TULANE THURSDAY

Radio: KAAM 770 AM Scott Garner (Play-by-Play)

Location: Dallas (Moody Coliseum)

Live stats and video streaming available on SMUMustangs.com

THE MATCHUP

For the second straight game, the Mustangs face one of the top two teams in C-USA in a rematch from an earlier loss. Tulane comes to Moody Coliseum Thursday night to face the Mustangs. The Green Wave won the first meeting of the season 62-58 in New Orleans. SMU comes into the contest with a 10-10 record, tied for seventh in the league with a 3-4 record, while Tulane is second in Conference USA with a 6-2 record, 17-4 overall. Game Notes in PDF Format

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION

Tulane: The Green Wave is 17-4 overall, 6-2 in Conference USA. Tulane is 2-2 in its last four games, with both losses coming in overtime. Tulane leads the league in scoring differential (+10.3), averaging 72.4 points per game, third in C-USA, while holding opponents to 62.1 points per game. Danielle Nunn leads the team in scoring with 14.6 points and Tiffany Aidoo is scoring 14.0 points per game. Tulane leads the league in assists, averaging 16.9 per game. Roshaunda Barnes is third in C-USA with 5.3 per game. Series History: Tulane leads the overall series 14-10. The two teams split the season series last year, each winning at home. Last Meeting: Tulane won the first meeting of the season 62-58 in New Orleans on Jan. 6 in the conference opener. Samantha Mahnesmith led the Mustangs with 16 points, and Akil Simpson pulled down a season-high 11 rebounds.

LAST GAME - HOUSTON

HOUSTON (SMU) - The Mustangs were seconds away from handing Houston its first conference loss of the season, but the Cougars (17-4, 8-0 Conference USA) forced three turnovers in the final 30 seconds to take a 72-67 victory in Hofheinz Pavilion Sunday. Alisha Filmore led all scorers with 17 points, and Akil Simpson posted her first double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Samantha Mahnesmith scored in double-figures for the seventh consecutive game with 12, and Christine Elliott also added 12 points. SMU led 67-61 with 38 seconds left, but the Cougars tied the game in two shots and pressed the Mustangs into three turnovers down the stretch to steal the win. Landry led the Cougars with 16 points, and Courtney Taylor recorded a double-double with 13 points and 14 boards. The Mustangs finished the game shooting 42.6-percent to Houston's 34.2-percent, but the Cougars hit 16-of-22 free throws, while SMU was just 9-of-15 from the line.

STREAKS AND TRENDS

SMU is 6-3 at home this season...SMU has taken a lead into halftime 10 times this season, going 8-2 when leading at the break...The SMU bench has out-scored the opponent's bench in eight of the last 11 games...SMU scored at least 70 points in four of the last six games, reaching 80 points for just the fourth time this season in the win over UTEP...Mahnesmith has scored at least 10 points in the last seven games and nine of the last 10...Haley Day recorded her first double-double of the season at USM, and has scored at least 10 points in four of the last five games...Akil Simpson posted her first double-double against Houston with 10 points and 10 rebounds, reaching double-figures for the third time this season.