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HOUSTON – SMU suffered a 60-44 setback against Houston at the Fertitta Center Friday in the American Athletic Conference opener for both teams.

Chantae Embry recorded her second-career double-double with 14 points and a career-high 15 rebounds. Returning from an injury that sidelined her for five weeks, TK Pitts accounted for four points and three steals. Jiya Perry made her first-career start, marking the first time the Mustangs (9-4, 0-1 AAC) starting five included a pair of freshmen since Head Coach Toyelle Wilson arrived on the Hilltop.

Houston outscored SMU 19-8 in the third quarter, opening a 21-point cushion at 50-29 with 10 minutes remaining. Trailing 58-37 midway through the final stanza, SMU netted seven of the final nine points for the final margin.

After a slow start mired the Mustangs in a 13-7 hole, the Cougars nudged the margin out to double-digits with five minutes remaining before halftime. Embry completed a 3-point play and Reagan Bradley hit 1-of-2 at the line to get SMU within two possessions with 3:34 on the clock. After four straight by the home team, Bradley put back a miss. Pitts turned a steal into a layup and Perry cut the margin to five with 45 seconds before intermission, but Houston answered. The Cougars converted a triple and a layup to take a 31-21 advantage to the locker room.

SMU Points Leader: Chantae Embry (14)
SMU Rebounds Leader: Chantae Embry (15)
SMU Assists Leader: Reagan Bradley (3)
SMU Steals Leader: TK Pitts (3)
SMU Blocks Leader: Chantae Embry, Reagan Bradley (2)
 
TEAM RECORDS AND SERIES NOTES TEAM NOTES
   •  SMU fell to 9-4, including 0-1 in AAC play, while the Cougars improved to 4-10, 1-0.
      •  The Mustangs trail the all-time series, 26-40, including 12-19 in Houston.
      •  SMU lost its fifth straight in the series away from Moody Coliseum and third overall.
      •  The two teams conclude the season series at 2 p.m. Jan. 21, 2023, in Dallas.
  
TEAM RECORDS
   •  The Mustangs fell to 2-4 in true road games this season.
   •  SMU went 4-2 in December, including 2-2 away from Moody Coliseum.
   •  The Mustangs enter Tuesday's matchup against UCF with a six-game home winning streak, one of three schools in The American still undefeated at home this season.
 
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
    •   Sophomore F Chantae Embry tallied 14 points, 15 rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks.
       •  It is the second double-double of her career - both this season.
       •  The 15 rebounds is a new career high, while the 14 points.
       •  She netted her ninth double-digit scoring performance as a Mustang.
    •  Freshman G TK Pitts totaled five points, one rebound and three steals in her first action since Nov. 26.
    •  Junior G Tamia Jones recorded six points, one rebound, one assist and one block.
    •  Senior F Savannah Wilkinson totaled four points, four rebounds, one steal and a block.
    •  Senior G Reagan Bradley tallied five points, three rebounds, three assists, two steals and a pair of blocks.
    •  Sophomore C Jessica Peterson chipped in with five points, five rebounds and two steals.
    •  Freshman G Ella Brow accounted for four points, two rebounds, one assist and one block.
    •  Freshman G Jiya Perry started for the first time in her collegiate career, netting two points on 1-of-3 from the field.
    • Paige Bayliss, Tymberlin Criswell and Zaria Rufus logged playing time.
                                                                                                                           
UP NEXT:
The Mustangs return to Moody Coliseum Tuesday, Jan. 3 at 7 p.m., opening the home portion of league play against UCF.