Jan. 30, 2011
Complete Release in PDF Format 
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.
By the time the Mustangs (10-10, 3-4 C-USA) scored their first points, four minutes had ticked off the clock and Houston led 11-0. Filmore hit the first the field goal, a three in the corner, and Raquel Christian sank another three on the next trip to cut the lead in half, 11-6.
It took the Mustangs until the one minute mark, but they tied the game 26-26 with a layup from Simpson. SMU trailed by just two at halftime, 30-28, shooting 37.5-percent from the field. SMU opened the game going 2-for-9 from the field in the first four and a half minutes, but made 10-of-23 shots over the remainder of the period to close the gap.
The Mustangs took their first lead with 15:21 left in the game when Simpson stole the ball from Porsche Landry off the dribble and went to the other end to give SMU a 37-36 lead. Six minutes later, the Cougars had stretched the lead back to nine, but an 11-0 run by the Mustangs comprised of three 3's and two steals gave SMU a 52-50 lead.
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.
SMU will return home to host Tulane on Thursday, Feb. 3, at 7 p.m. The Green Wave won the first meeting of the season 62-58 in New Orleans on Jan. 6.
