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PHOTO GALLERY   MAYS/KAYLA WHITE POSTGAME

DALLAS (SMU) - Kayla White scored 20 points as the Mustangs beat ECU, 53-45, inside Moody Coliseum on Tuesday night.
 
The Mustang defense stifled the ECU offense all night, limiting the Pirates to 30.6% from the floor including a crucial 23.5% in the second half. SMU outrebounded ECU 48-32.
 
ECU (5-18, 2-8) held an early 10-point edge in the first quarter thanks to a 14-point quarter from Taniyah Thompson. SMU closed the quarter strong, whittling the lead down to two at the close.
 
SMU (10-13, 4-7) allowed just two ECU field goals in the first eight minutes of the second quarter as the Mustangs shot in front. Kayla White finished with 13 points on 6-of-10 shooting in the half to boost SMU into a two-point edge at intermission.
 
A back-and-forth third period put the Mustangs in front by one heading to the final session. ECU retook the lead in the fourth but the Mustangs followed it up with a 14-5 run to regain the edge and close out the game. Amber Bacon delivered a momentum driving-moment with the Mustangs up three. The guard swiped ECU on one end before finding Ariana Whitfield for three forcing a ECU timeout. SMU hit free throws and played strong defense down the stretch to keep the Pirates at bay.
 
Kayla White finished with her third 20-point night of the season. The sophomore finished with six boards, along with three assists, two steals and played a season high in minutes.
 
Amber Bacon came off the bench to provide 33 key minutes of action for SMU. Bacon had four steals on the night coupled with seven boards. Johnasia Cash had a strong night on the glass with 11 boards in 21 minutes.. Freshman Reagan Bradley added to her freshman assist record with a five-assist night.
 
The SMU defense held ECU's leading scorer, Lashonda Monk, in check all night. After have a strong 20+ point performance in the first matchup, SMU limited Monk to two points on 1-of-16 shooting.
 
Next up, the Mustangs hit the  road for a Saturday matchup with Tulsa. SMU handed the Golden Hurricane a 57-38 loss in the first meeting of the season with Ariana Whitfield dropping 23 points in the SMU win.