DALLAS (SMU) - SMU whittled a 13-point fourth-quarter Wichita State lead down to as few as five in the final minutes, but the Mustangs couldn't complete the comeback, falling 52-45 on Saturday afternoon.

Freshman Ariana Whitfield led the way for the Mustangs offensively by scoring a team-high 14 points. Whitfield showed great energy throughout the game to lead the Mustangs with seven rebounds and three steals.

Senior McKenzie Adams joined Whitfield in double-figures by scoring 14 points while also dishing out a team-high three assists. 

The Mustang defense was once again stout, holding Wichita State well below its season average of 66 points. However, SMU's offense was unable to take advantage, shooting just 28 percent from the floor and 15 percent from 3-point range. 

SMU held the Shockers to just six points in the second quarter to enter the half trailing by only four points, but Wichita State used a strong third quarter to stretch the lead out to double-digits. The Mustangs scratched back into the game in the fourth quarter by holding the Shockers without a field goal over the final six minutes of the game, but the comeback effort fell short. 

Despite playing a smaller lineup for a large portion of the game, the Mustangs were able to find success on the offensive glass. Both Adams and Whitfield grabbed four offensive rebounds apiece as the Mustangs collected 18 as a team. SMU had twice as many offensive rebounds than Wichita, and those boards led to 11 second chance points for the Mustangs.

SMU has a week off before hosting No. 1 UConn on February 24 at 5 p.m. for Senior Day.