Nov. 24, 2008
CHARLESTON, Ill. (SMU) - Brittany Gilliam scored 19 points and Jillian Samuels added 17, and Samuels hit a dramatic last-second three-pointer to send the game into overtime, but the rally fell short as the SMU women's basketball team fell, 71-65, Monday afternoon at Eastern Illinois.
Among Samuels' 17 points were a trio of three-pointers, which gave her eight shots from long range this season and raising her career total to 131, pushing her past former SMU star Sarah Davis into fourth place in program history.
In addition to her 19 points, Gilliam also led the Mustangs with 10 rebounds (giving her the first double-double of her junior season), in assists (eight) and in steals (five).
EIU shot well all afternoon, including 44 percent on three-pointers, and held a three-point lead in the waning seconds of overtime. But Samuels collected a pass from junior Delisha Wills and drained a 22-footer to send the game into the extra session.
The Mustangs now return to Moody Coliseum after Thanksgiving for the annual SMU Hoops for the Cure Tournament. The Mustangs will host Sam Houston State at 7 p.m. Friday in the first round, and then will play either Fresno State or UNC-Charlotte Saturday. The consolation game will be at 5, with the championship game at 7 p.m.
For a complete schedule and ticket information, log on to SMUMustangs.com or call 214-SMU-GAME.
