Friday, March 6
Uncasville, Conn.
7 p.m.
SMU
vs
Memphis
Mustangs Face Memphis In AAC Championship First Round
Mar 5 | Women's Basketball
No. 6 Seed SMU (13-15, 7-9 AAC) vs. No. 11 Seed Memphis (13-16, 4-12 AAC)
March 6, 2020 – 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT
Uncasville, Conn. | Mohegan Sun Arena
ESPN3 | Live Stats | Radio
SMU Social Apps
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
SMU Mobile App
Apple | Google Play
SMU women's basketball meets Memphis in the first round of the American Athletic Conference Championship on Friday at 8 ET / 7 CT. The first round matchup with the Tigers will be broadcast on ESPN3 with the winner moving on to face Cincinnati on Saturday in the quarterfinals.
FINISHING STRONG
• SMU won three of its last four games to climb up the standings to No. 6 in The American.
• Amber Bacon averaged a team-best 14.8 points, and Johnasia Cash averaged a double-double with 12.8 points and 10.3 rebounds during the stretch.
• In the wins, SMU increased its shooting percentage to 45.3 and scored 67.0 points per game, eight points more than the season average.
YOUTH GAINS EXPERIENCE
• Of the seven players averaging more than 20 minutes for the Mustangs, five are sophomores and one is a freshman. Not counting Brishonne Tollie, who suffered a season-ending knee injury 11 games into the season, all of the underclassmen have played in more than 20 games with at least 15 starts.Freshman Reagan Bradley has started all 25 games and averages a team-high34.1 minutes.
THE OPPONENT - MEMPHIS
• Memphis is 13-16, 4-12 in The American.
• The Tigers lost their last five after a stretch of three wins in four games.
• Memphis defeated SMU 57-52 at home on Jan. 21 with a 19-10 fourth-quarter advantage.
IN THE POSTSEASON
• Memphis won both of two previous tournament games in the series.
• The Tigers won 71-59 in the first round of the 2015 AAC Championship after SMU won 60-53 at Memphis in the regular season finale.
• Memphis won 77-67 in the second round of the 2012 C-USA Championship.
The Tigers also won 60-55 in the regular season in Dallas.
• This is the first time SMU and Memphis have played three times in a season.
TEAM NOTES
• SMU averages 41.3 rebounds per game, 33rd in the NCAA and third in The American.
• SMU is 80th in the NCAA and fourth in the AAC in field-goal defense, holding opponents to 37.9 percent from the field.
• SMU is 72nd in the NCAA and fourth in The American in scoring defense, allowing 60.0 points per game.
IN THE POSTSEASON
• Memphis won both of two previous tournament games in the series.
• The Tigers won 71-59 in the first round of the 2015 AAC Championship after SMU won 60-53 at Memphis in the regular season finale.
• Memphis won 77-67 in the second round of the 2012 C-USA Championship.
The Tigers also won 60-55 in the regular season in Dallas.
• This is the first time SMU and Memphis have played three times in a season.
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TEAM NOTES
• SMU averages 41.3 rebounds per game, 33rd in the NCAA and third in The American.
• SMU is 80th in the NCAA and fourth in the AAC in field-goal defense, holding opponents to 37.9 percent from the field.
• SMU is 72nd in the NCAA and fourth in The American in scoring defense,
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JOHNASIA CASH
Johnasia Cash ranks third in the conference with 9.5 rebounds per game, 43rd in the NCAA, and averages a team-high 10.9 points. She scored a career-high 25 points against Cincinnati and grabbed 12 rebounds for her eighth double-double of the season. The junior now has 11 for the year, ranking 40th in the NCAA. She finished with 18 points and a season-high 16 rebounds against North Dakota. Cash tops the team and is fourth in the league in blocks with 38, averaging 1.4 per game. She posted four-blocks three times.
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REAGAN BRADLEY
Reagan Bradley surpassed Tomi Hollis (1982-83) to set the SMU freshman single-season assists record against Cincinnati with her 96th assist of the season. She has 127 on the year, tied for ninth in a season overall. Bradley is second The American and ranks 73rd in the NCAA, seventh among freshmen, with 4.5 per game. Bradley averages 9.5 points and 5.2 rebounds. With a season-high nine assists against UTEP, Bradley tied for 16th in a game at SMU (SINGLE-GAME RECORD IS 11). She has 13 games with at least five assists, including seven of the last nine games. She scored a season-high 18 points against George Mason and has scored at least 10 points 11 times, including eight of the last 13 games.
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SMU RECORDS
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FRESHMAN SINGLE-SEASON ASSISTS
1. Reagan Bradley 2019-20 127
2. Tomi Hollis 1982-83 95
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SINGLE-SEASON ASSISTS
1. Suzanne McAnally 1991-92 189
T7. D-Dra Rucker 1999-00 131
T7. Kendall Shead 2003-04 131
T9. Karen Blair 1998-99 127
T9. Reagan Bradley 2019-20 127
FRESHMAN SINGLE-SEASON STEALS
1. Missy Parker 1989-90 84
2. Agnela Crooks 1984-85 59
3. Brittany Gilliam 2006-07 55
4. Reagan Bradley 2019-20 54
5. Karen Blair 1995-96 52
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KAYLA WHITE
Kayla White averages 10.6 points and has scored at least 10 points 11 times. She scored a season-high 22 points against North Dakota, one game after dropping 21 against Wright State. She led the team with 18 points in a win at ECU in January, and scored 20 against the Pirates at home. White has 18 made 3-pointers, connecting on 17 against conference opponents, and is shooting 36.9 percent from the field.
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PAIGE BAYLISS
Paige Bayliss has three games with at least 10 rebounds, including two against AAC opponents. Bayliss posted her second double-double of the season with a career-high 15 rebounds and 13 points against Tulane. The first double-double of her career came with 14 points and 10 rebounds against UC Irvine. Overall, Bayliss is averaging 7.0 points and 5.0 rebounds with a team-high 51.9 shooting percentage.
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AMBER BACON
Amber Bacon is fourth on the team with 8.9 points per game, but has led the Mustangs in scoring seven times this season, including four of the last five games. She has reached double digits 13 times, including a season-high 17 points at Wichita State. She scored 16 points at Tulsa and finished with 15 against Houston. Bacon scored a team-high 15 points and matched her career-high with seven assists to close out the regular season at Memphis. She is third on the team with 42 steals, and is hitting a team-best 70.8 percent from the freethrow line. Bacon is second on the team with 89 assists. She passed out six assists against McNeese and Wright State, and again at ECU. Bacon recorded four steals against both CSUN (Cal State Northridge) and UTEP.
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JAQUIA WHITE
JaQuia White is averaging 4.7 points per game, reaching double figures twice. She scored a career-high 13 points against McNeese, and finished with 12 against UTEP. White is shooting  33.1 percent, and has made 15 3-pointers.
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ARIANA WHITFIELD
Ariana Whitfield scored a season-high 23 points against Tulsa, one shy of her career-high, going 9-of-15 from the field. The junior was named to The American Weekly Honor Roll for her efforts. Limited this season due to injuries earlier in the year, she is averaging 5.4 points with a 37.8 shooting percentage. With 15 made 3-pointers against conference opponents, Whitfield now has 19 field goals outside the arc.
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March 6, 2020 – 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT
Uncasville, Conn. | Mohegan Sun Arena
ESPN3 | Live Stats | Radio
SMU Social Apps
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
SMU Mobile App
Apple | Google Play
SMU women's basketball meets Memphis in the first round of the American Athletic Conference Championship on Friday at 8 ET / 7 CT. The first round matchup with the Tigers will be broadcast on ESPN3 with the winner moving on to face Cincinnati on Saturday in the quarterfinals.
FINISHING STRONG
• SMU won three of its last four games to climb up the standings to No. 6 in The American.
• Amber Bacon averaged a team-best 14.8 points, and Johnasia Cash averaged a double-double with 12.8 points and 10.3 rebounds during the stretch.
• In the wins, SMU increased its shooting percentage to 45.3 and scored 67.0 points per game, eight points more than the season average.
YOUTH GAINS EXPERIENCE
• Of the seven players averaging more than 20 minutes for the Mustangs, five are sophomores and one is a freshman. Not counting Brishonne Tollie, who suffered a season-ending knee injury 11 games into the season, all of the underclassmen have played in more than 20 games with at least 15 starts.Freshman Reagan Bradley has started all 25 games and averages a team-high34.1 minutes.
THE OPPONENT - MEMPHIS
• Memphis is 13-16, 4-12 in The American.
• The Tigers lost their last five after a stretch of three wins in four games.
• Memphis defeated SMU 57-52 at home on Jan. 21 with a 19-10 fourth-quarter advantage.
IN THE POSTSEASON
• Memphis won both of two previous tournament games in the series.
• The Tigers won 71-59 in the first round of the 2015 AAC Championship after SMU won 60-53 at Memphis in the regular season finale.
• Memphis won 77-67 in the second round of the 2012 C-USA Championship.
The Tigers also won 60-55 in the regular season in Dallas.
• This is the first time SMU and Memphis have played three times in a season.
TEAM NOTES
• SMU averages 41.3 rebounds per game, 33rd in the NCAA and third in The American.
• SMU is 80th in the NCAA and fourth in the AAC in field-goal defense, holding opponents to 37.9 percent from the field.
• SMU is 72nd in the NCAA and fourth in The American in scoring defense, allowing 60.0 points per game.
IN THE POSTSEASON
• Memphis won both of two previous tournament games in the series.
• The Tigers won 71-59 in the first round of the 2015 AAC Championship after SMU won 60-53 at Memphis in the regular season finale.
• Memphis won 77-67 in the second round of the 2012 C-USA Championship.
The Tigers also won 60-55 in the regular season in Dallas.
• This is the first time SMU and Memphis have played three times in a season.
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TEAM NOTES
• SMU averages 41.3 rebounds per game, 33rd in the NCAA and third in The American.
• SMU is 80th in the NCAA and fourth in the AAC in field-goal defense, holding opponents to 37.9 percent from the field.
• SMU is 72nd in the NCAA and fourth in The American in scoring defense,
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JOHNASIA CASH
Johnasia Cash ranks third in the conference with 9.5 rebounds per game, 43rd in the NCAA, and averages a team-high 10.9 points. She scored a career-high 25 points against Cincinnati and grabbed 12 rebounds for her eighth double-double of the season. The junior now has 11 for the year, ranking 40th in the NCAA. She finished with 18 points and a season-high 16 rebounds against North Dakota. Cash tops the team and is fourth in the league in blocks with 38, averaging 1.4 per game. She posted four-blocks three times.
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REAGAN BRADLEY
Reagan Bradley surpassed Tomi Hollis (1982-83) to set the SMU freshman single-season assists record against Cincinnati with her 96th assist of the season. She has 127 on the year, tied for ninth in a season overall. Bradley is second The American and ranks 73rd in the NCAA, seventh among freshmen, with 4.5 per game. Bradley averages 9.5 points and 5.2 rebounds. With a season-high nine assists against UTEP, Bradley tied for 16th in a game at SMU (SINGLE-GAME RECORD IS 11). She has 13 games with at least five assists, including seven of the last nine games. She scored a season-high 18 points against George Mason and has scored at least 10 points 11 times, including eight of the last 13 games.
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SMU RECORDS
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FRESHMAN SINGLE-SEASON ASSISTS
1. Reagan Bradley 2019-20 127
2. Tomi Hollis 1982-83 95
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SINGLE-SEASON ASSISTS
1. Suzanne McAnally 1991-92 189
T7. D-Dra Rucker 1999-00 131
T7. Kendall Shead 2003-04 131
T9. Karen Blair 1998-99 127
T9. Reagan Bradley 2019-20 127
FRESHMAN SINGLE-SEASON STEALS
1. Missy Parker 1989-90 84
2. Agnela Crooks 1984-85 59
3. Brittany Gilliam 2006-07 55
4. Reagan Bradley 2019-20 54
5. Karen Blair 1995-96 52
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KAYLA WHITE
Kayla White averages 10.6 points and has scored at least 10 points 11 times. She scored a season-high 22 points against North Dakota, one game after dropping 21 against Wright State. She led the team with 18 points in a win at ECU in January, and scored 20 against the Pirates at home. White has 18 made 3-pointers, connecting on 17 against conference opponents, and is shooting 36.9 percent from the field.
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PAIGE BAYLISS
Paige Bayliss has three games with at least 10 rebounds, including two against AAC opponents. Bayliss posted her second double-double of the season with a career-high 15 rebounds and 13 points against Tulane. The first double-double of her career came with 14 points and 10 rebounds against UC Irvine. Overall, Bayliss is averaging 7.0 points and 5.0 rebounds with a team-high 51.9 shooting percentage.
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AMBER BACON
Amber Bacon is fourth on the team with 8.9 points per game, but has led the Mustangs in scoring seven times this season, including four of the last five games. She has reached double digits 13 times, including a season-high 17 points at Wichita State. She scored 16 points at Tulsa and finished with 15 against Houston. Bacon scored a team-high 15 points and matched her career-high with seven assists to close out the regular season at Memphis. She is third on the team with 42 steals, and is hitting a team-best 70.8 percent from the freethrow line. Bacon is second on the team with 89 assists. She passed out six assists against McNeese and Wright State, and again at ECU. Bacon recorded four steals against both CSUN (Cal State Northridge) and UTEP.
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JAQUIA WHITE
JaQuia White is averaging 4.7 points per game, reaching double figures twice. She scored a career-high 13 points against McNeese, and finished with 12 against UTEP. White is shooting  33.1 percent, and has made 15 3-pointers.
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ARIANA WHITFIELD
Ariana Whitfield scored a season-high 23 points against Tulsa, one shy of her career-high, going 9-of-15 from the field. The junior was named to The American Weekly Honor Roll for her efforts. Limited this season due to injuries earlier in the year, she is averaging 5.4 points with a 37.8 shooting percentage. With 15 made 3-pointers against conference opponents, Whitfield now has 19 field goals outside the arc.
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Players Mentioned
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Center
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Forward
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Guard
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