Feb. 9, 2007
Box Score
DALLAS (SMU) - The SMU women's basketball team could not overcome a 15-point deficit at halftime and fell to visiting East Carolina Friday night by the score of 70-58. With the loss, SMU drops to 13-10 overall (5-6 C-USA) while the Lady Pirates improve to 11-13 overall (6-5 C-USA).
Poor shooting hurt SMU in the first half, hitting 23.7% from the field while the Lady Pirates, with a number of high-percentage shots, could not miss at 53.1% from the field. SMU could not capitalize on ECU miscues, scoring only six points off nine Lady Pirate turnovers. On the other hand, East Carolina scored 11 points off nine SMU turnovers. SMU did not hit a field goal in the last 5:51 of the half. ECU went into intermission with a 15-point lead (37-22) - SMU's largest halftime deficit at Moody Coliseum this season.
In the second half, it was more of the same, but ECU's shooting cooled off, hitting 35.7% from the field. SMU pushed the ball in transition, only to miss a number of lay-ups, which would have cut into the Lady Pirate lead. East Carolina extended its lead to as many as 19 points (55-36) at the 6:28 mark. SMU did not take advantage of being in the free throw bonus early, missing free throws. For the second straight game, SMU shot under 60% from the charity stripe (8-of-14).
SMU's Janielle Dodds turned in her fifth double-double of the season with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Junior Sharee Shepherd led the Mustang squad with 16 points and added nine rebounds. ECU's Cherie Mills poured in 168 points and combined it with 16 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season. LaCoya Terry scored 16 points for the Lady Pirates.
The Mustangs look to bounce back with a home game Sunday afternoon (2:00 p.m.) vs. Marshall. The Thundering Herd (14-10, 7-4 C-USA) lost at Tulsa Friday night by the score of 74-58.
