Box Score: SMU 83, UCF 74  | Season Stats  | Postgame Notes  | Postgame Quotes 

UNCASVILLE, Conn. (SMU) - With two seconds left in regulation, Dai'ja Thomas forced overtime with a layup, before the SMU women's basketball team outscored UCF 15-6 in overtime to claim an 83-74 come-from-behind victory and advance to the second round of the American Athletic Conference Championship Friday night at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

It was all SMU in the final five minutes, as the Mustangs made 5-of-10 shots from the field, while holding the Knights to 2-of-8 shooting. SMU also capitalized from the free-throw line in the final five minutes, converting 4-of-7 attempts.

All five SMU starters, along with Thomas, recorded double-digit scoring performances. Alicia Froling scored 17 points and grabbed 12 rebounds en route to her 14th double-double of the season. Froling is one double-double shy of tying the SMU single-season double-double record, which was set by Shasta Smothers-Johnson in the 1984-85 season. McKenzie Adams added 14 points for the Mustangs, and tallied three rebounds and three assists. Morgan Bolton scored 13 points and had seven assists, tying her career-highs in both categories. The junior guard also recorded six rebounds. Stephanie Collins and Thomas each finished with 12 points, with Thomas tying her career-high in points scored. Gabrielle Wilkins rounded off the group, scoring 10 points on 5-for-12 shooting.

The last time all five SMU starters scored at least 10 points in a game, was on Feb. 8, 2014, when the Mustangs took on Rutgers.

Trailing 66-57 with 2:39 left in the game, Froling hit a 3-point jumper to spark a 7-0 run that would cut the UCF lead to two, 66-64, with 54 seconds left in the game. After UCF converted two late free-throws, Adams brought the game back within two, 68-66, before Thomas kept SMU's tournament run alive in the final seconds.

SMU shot 45.7 percent from the field and made four 3-pointers, while holding the Knights to 38.0 percent from the field and 37.0 percent from behind the 3-point arc. The Mustangs also converted 78.9 percent (15-of-19) from the free-throw-line.

SMU will take on No. 20/20 USF at 6 p.m. ET/5 p.m. CT Saturday in the second round of the American Athletic Conference Championship.

--SMUMustangs.com--