SMU Hosts No. 13 Baylor I Thursday, 7 PM

Nov 28

OPENING TIP
SMU continues its non-conference gauntlet by hosting No. 13 Baylor on Thursday at 7 p.m. in Moody Coliseum.
Thursday's action can be seen on ESPNU, with live stats accessible at SMUMustangs.com/stats.

LAST TIME OUT
Toledo 74, SMU 73 I Friday, Nov. 24
Harvard 80, SMU 67 I Saturday, Nov. 25
SMU dropped two straight contests to Toledo and Harvard at the San Diego Classic. The Mustangs suffered a 74-73 setback against Toledo Friday, before falling in the tournament finale to Harvard 80-67.

Graduate guard Tiara Young was named to the San Diego Classic All-Tournament Team after leading the Mustangs with 18 points on Friday against Toledo. She grabbed four rebounds and passed out two assists. Young scored 17 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and passed out three assists in the finale of the San Diego Classic on Saturday.

A LOOK AT THE OPPONENT
Baylor
Baylor is 5-0 this season. The Bears defeated Southern in its season-opener before taking down then-No. 4 Utah 84-77. Most recently, Baylor defeated Alcorn State 93-47. The Bears were picked second behind Texas in the 2023 Big 12 Preseason Poll.

UP TO THIS POINT
SMU is 3-3 overall.
The Mustangs started the season 3-1 for the first time since the 2013-14 season, and won their third consecutive season opener with a 78-75 victory over UC Riverside.
SMU picked up a dominating 96-47 victory over Alabama State. SMU's 96 points marked the most points scored during the Toyelle Wilson era.
SMU enters Thursday's contest after a three-game losing skid. SMU fell to then-No. 5 Colorado, 84-69, before dropping back-to-back games against Toledo and Harvard at the San Diego Classic.
SMU leads the league in team assist/turnover ratio, assists per game, field goal percentage (25th nationally), and three point field goal percentage (20th nationally). The Mustangs are top-five in the conference in scoring offense, free throw attempts, made free throws per game, and scoring margin.
Category                 Value         AAC/National
Scoring Offense        75.3           3/72
FG%   .                    481            1/25
3PT FG%                .384             1/20
Assists Per Game   16.0          1/62
Asst/TO Ratio           1.10          1/57

YOUNG MAKES ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
SMU graduate guard Tiara Young was named to the All-Tournament Team at the San Diego Classic. Young led the Mustangs with 18 points on Friday against Toledo. The graduate guard grabbed four rebounds and passed out two assists. Young scored 17 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and passed out three assists in the finale of the San Diego Classic on Saturday.

AAC'S BEST
Young was named the AAC Player of the Week on Nov. 20. The graduate guard turned in 24 points, eclipsed 1,000 career points, and grabbed a season-high seven rebounds in SMU's victory over Nicholls. Young led all scorers and posted a career-high 30 points against No. 5 Colorado. She averaged 27 points through two games and added four rebounds, two assists, and a block against the Buffaloes.

A WALKING BUCKET
Former AAC Sixth Player of the Year Tiara Young is off to an impressive start to the season.
Young has led the Mustangs and turned in double-digit points in all six games this season.
Young averages 21 ppg, ranking second in the league, and 23rd nationally. She has scored 126 points through the first six games (3rd AAC, 37th nationally), on 54.8% from the field (3rd AAC, 68th nationally).
Young had a strong debut, posting 20 points, three rebounds, and five assists to lead SMU over UC Riverside. Young posted her second double-digit scoring performance of the year with 17 points against Alabama State.
Young was crowned the AAC Player of the Week after posting 24 points and earning her 1000th career point against Nicholls to start the week. Young posted a career-high 30 points against then-No. 5 Colorado.
Young was named to the All-Tournament Team at the San Diego Classic after leading Mustangs with 18 points on Friday against Toledo. The graduate guard grabbed four rebounds and passed out two assists. Young scored 17 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and passed out three assists in the finale of the San Diego Classic on Saturday. She was named the American Athletic Conference Player of the Week on Nov. 20.

EMBRY PICKING UP WHERE SHE LEFT OFF
Chantae Embry is putting together another impressive season on the Hilltop.
Embry is averaging 9.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game. She has scored in double digits in three out of the Mustangs first four games.
Embry started this season's campaign with a double-double (16 points, 12 rebounds), and added five assists and two steals against UC Riverside.
Embry added 13 points, four rebounds, one steal and assist, while tying her career-high of two three point field goals against Alabama State.
Embry tallied 14 points using a career-high four three-point jump shots, and grabbed eight rebounds while passing out four assists against No. 5 Colorado.
Embry is shooting 60% from the three point line (1st AAC, 18th nationally).
Chantae Embry owned four of the Mustangs' seven 20-point games last season (20 at OU, 20 at Oral Roberts, 20 vs. ECU, 21 vs. Houston).

BRADLEY LEAVING HER MARK
Guard Reagan Bradley returns for her fifth season on the Hilltop. Bradley moved to sixth on SMU's All-Time Assists list with 329 total after tying her career high of nine against Alabama State. Bradley opened the season by moving to seventh on the list after passing out two against UC Riverside.
Bradley is averaging 7.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists (6th AAC) this season.
Bradley has turned in double-digit scoring performances in three out of the Mustangs first six contests.
Bradley has started 91 and played in 96 games at SMU.
SMU Career Assists
489 Suzanne McAnally 1989-92
481 Kendall Shead 2003-06
462 Karen Blair 1995-99
435 Brittany Gilliam 2006-10
368 Missy Parker 1990-93
340 Reagan Bradley 2019-24
327 Tomi Hollis 1983-86
319 Alisha Filmore 2009-13

CAREER START FOR ABDUR-RAHIM
Amirah Abdur-Rahim is off to a career start.
The senior forward averages 9.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game (2nd AAC, 29th nationally). Abdur-Rahim has blocked 12 shots this season, which ranks second in the league and top-35 in the nation.
The senior forward chipped in 14 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks against Nicholls.
Abdur-Rahim led the Mustangs against Alabama State, posting career highs in points, rebounds, blocks, and steals. The senior forward earned a double-double (18 points, 11 rebounds), while adding four blocks, two steals, and an assist.

FILLING UP THE STAT SHEET
Tamia Jones has done it all for the Mustangs so far this season.
Jones has turned in 10.3 points, 3.7 boards, 4.3 assists (2nd AAC, 106th nationally), and 2.8 steals (3rd AAC, 41st nationally) per game.
Jones ranks first in the league with a 2.17 assist/turnover ratio, and has totaled 26 assists this season, which ranks third in the league. Jones has recorded 17 total steals (3rd AAC, 37th nationally).
Jones has tallied double-digit points four times this season, and enters the Baylor matchup after posting double figures in both games at the San Diego Classic.
Jones tied her career-high with eight assists against Nicholls and tallied double-digit points with 14.

BACK-TO-BACK POSTSEASON APPEARANCES
SMU made the WNIT for the second consecutive season under Head Coach Toyelle Wilson.
The Mustangs made the postseason in back-to-back years for the first time since 2014 and 2015. The 2022-23 season marked the third postseason appearance in seven seasons.
SMU defeated Little Rock 68-42 in the first round of the WNIT in Moody Coliseum.

MOODY MAGIC
SMU is off to a 3-1 start in Moody Coliseum this season.
SMU picked up a dominating 96-47 victory over Alabama State in the second game of the season. SMU's 96 points marked the most points scored during the Toyelle Wilson era.
Last season, SMU finished 13-2 in Moody Coliseum, including a 10-0 start at home- breaking the program's best start to open a season (2004-05) and best home winning streak (1999-00, final nine games).

HOME COOKING
The Mustangs outscore their opponents 78-60 at Moody Coliseum, shooting 49.1% to opponents' 38.7% this season.
SMU owns a 36.5-34.8 edge in rebounding action.
The Mustangs average 1.5 more three pointers made, and outshoot their opponents 41.0%-22.9% from the three point line at home.
SMU has recorded 2.8 more assists, 1.5 more steals, and 1.3 more blocks than its opponents in Moody Coliseum.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
SMU has outscored its opponents 75.3-65.7 through six games this season.
SMU is outshooting opponents .481-.397 this season, including a 38.4% clip from behind the arc.
SMU averages 2.6 more rebounds per game than its opponents, while recording 0.5 more assists per game.
SMU is 3-1 when outrebounding its opponent.
SMU is 3-0 when tallying more assist than its opponent.
SMU is 3-1 when making more 3-point field goals than its opponent.
SMU is 2-1 when recording more blocks than its opponent.
SMU has outshot its opponent from the field in five of its first six games.
SMU is 2-1 when scoring more points and the paint and bench points.
SMU is 3-2 when recording more fast break points than its opponent.

SHOOTING STARS
SMU has outshot its opponents in five out of its first six games this season.
SMU is shooting 48.1% from the field, which ranks first in the American and top-25 in the nation.
SMU is shooting 38.4% from the three point line, which ranks first in the conference and 20th in the nation.
SMU shot over 50% from the field in their first two games of the season.
SMU shot a season-high 63.6% (7/11) from behind the arc, and 56.3% from the field against Alabama State.

GETTING DEFENSIVE
The Mustangs held three out of their first four opponents under 55 points.
SMU held its first three opponents under 40% shooting and has held all seven foes under 50% from the field.
SMU allowed 58.3 ppg, ranking second in the AAC and 41st in the nation last season. Only three teams surpassed their scoring average in regulation.

TK MAKIN' PLAYS
Sophomore guard TK Pitts has emerged as a key player for the Mustangs.
Pitts is averaging 7.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game.
Pitts grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds against Nicholls and scored a career-high 12 points against Toledo.
RETURNERS AAC AWARDS
Ella Brow was named the AAC Freshman of the Week on Jan. 16 after wins against Cincinnati and ECU.
Chantae Embry was a five-time AAC Weekly Honor Roll selection last season (2/13, 1/24, 1/16, 1/2, 11/14).
Jessica Peterson earned a spot on the final 2022-23 Weekly Honor Roll for the first time in her career on March 2.

RECAPPING THE 2022-23 SEASON
SMU finished the 2022-23 season with a 17-13 record.
SMU went 13-2 in Moody Coliseum, including a program-record 10-game home winning streak. Savannah Wilkinson, Jasmine Smith and Ella Brow each earned All-American Athletic Conference honors.
The Mustangs made the WNIT for the second straight season, earning a postseason bid in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2014 and 2015.
The Mustangs ranked second in scoring defense in the AAC, holding opponents to only 58.3 points per game.
Three different Mustangs finished in the top 10 in the league in four separate individual categories.

NO PRESSURE, NO DIAMONDS
The Mustangs 11-game non-conference gauntlet features eight games in Moody Coliseum.
SMU will navigate a tough non-conference schedule, featuring games against No. 19 Baylor, and fifth-ranked Colorado along with a matchup with Toledo who is receiving votes after a run to the quarterfinals of the WNIT last season.

WELCOME TO THE HILLTOP
SMU welcomes two freshman and two transfers to the Hilltop for the 2023-24 season.
Tiara Young I G I GR I Shreveport, La./Houston
2022-23 (Senior at Houston): Appeared in 30 games, starting one game on Senior Night against Wichita State (Mar. 1)... Finished 17 games with 10 or more points and led the Cougars in scoring in 10 games…Led the team in free throws made (85), while finishing second in points (361), field goals made (136), and assists (51)... Recorded several career-highs in her senior season including a 26-point performance in the American Athletic Conference Tournament semifinal against Wichita State (Mar. 8)... Unanimously American Athletic Conference Sixth Player of the Year… Dave Campbell's Texas Basketball Sixth Woman of the Yea

Maya Chandler I G I SR I Martinsville, Ind./Loyola Chicago
2022-23 (Junior at Loyola Chicago): Started 23 games and appeared in 30… Led the Ramblers in scoring with 10.7 points per game… Averaged three rebounds per game… Totaled 34 assists and 31 steals… Shot 82.6% from the charity stripe.
Aaliyah Henderson I G I FR I Norman, Okla.
High School: Henderson, a three-year letterwinner for Norman High School ranks in the top-five in Oklahoma for the class of 2022 at the point-guard position. She earned two All-Central Oklahoma Athletic Conference Selections, including first team in 2022. Her team won the 2021 Oklahoma 6A State Title after qualifying for the state tournament the previous year, before it was cancelled due to COVID-19. Her other accolades include Joe Lawson All Tournament First Team, Bruce Gray Invitational All Tournament MVP, 56th Annual Tournament of Champions All-Tournament First Team, Big All City Second Team, The Oklahoman Super 5 Honorable Mention, a two-time All-Oklahoma Honorable mention. In the classroom, Henderson entered her senior campaign for accuracy.
Shanel Reid I G I FR I Austin Texas
High School: A three-year letterwinner for Austin High School earned All-Texas First Team Honors twice, an All-Texas Academic First Team Accolade, All-Region First Team in 2021-22, All-District First Team Selection and 2019-20 district newcomer of the year and offensive MVP.

PRESEASON PROWESS
SMU was predicted to finish fourth in the AAC standings in 2023-24 Preseason Poll behind league front-runners USF, ECU, and Rice.

PONY UP DALLAS
In just seven days, SMU has raised $100 million to support the Mustangs' transition to the Atlantic Coast Conference.
The generous early commitments from a group of thirty donors that includes trustees and key donors – alumni and non-alumni alike – will enable SMU to align and compete with an elite group of national institutions with powerhouse athletic programs, benefitting both SMU Athletics and the entire University community.
The move to the new conference is also creating additional impact. Mustang fans have responded enthusiastically to the planned move, with men's basketball season ticket sales jumping 30% in the last week and hundreds of new football season tickets being sold as well.
Notably, the move has immediately raised SMU's profile, with media coverage of the move generating more than $163 million in advertising value in the first three days. In that same small window, SMU also experienced a 103% increase in visitors to its undergraduate admissions homepage.

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