Feb. 10, 2006
Box Score
Orlando, Fla. - Four Mustang players scored in double figures to give SMU a 69-57 victory over UCF Friday evening in Orlando, Fla. With the win, SMU keeps its hold on second place in Conference USA standings and now records a 13-10 overall mark (8-3 C-USA). UCF falls to 5-18 overall (3-9 C-USA).
SMU never surrendered the lead to the Golden Knights right from the start. The Mustangs hit nearly 43% from the field but UCF shot just a bit better at 44.4% from the field. SMU posted a nine-point lead with just under three minutes to play, but UCF cut that lead to five points at intermission (34-29). SMU's Katie Gross and Janielle Dodds each scored 10 first-half points.
In the second half, the Mustangs quickly built the lead back up to nine points (38-29) at the 17:45 mark, but the Golden Knights scored the next eight of 10 points to deflate the lead to two points (43-41) at the 13:50 mark. SMU would then build it back up - just to have UCF cut it to within striking range. But at the 11:01 mark, SMU's Sharee Shepherd took over on both sides of the ball with 13 second-half points, three blocks, and three steals. The Mustangs used good clock control and never looked back.
Dodds posted 16 points for the Mustangs. She added three steals and three assists. Shepherd tied her season-high mark with 16 points while Gross added 13 points. Katy Cobb rounded out the double-figure scorers with 12 points and four assists. The Golden Knights were led by Shelby Weber with 15 points and 12 rebounds.
SMU returns home with a showdown for first place against Tulsa (18-4, 9-2 C-USA) Sunday afternoon. Tip-off is slated for 2:00 p.m. and will be broadcast live on KKGM-Radio (1630 AM).
