SMU (5-5) vs Air Force (7-5)
Moody Coliseum – Dallas, Texas
Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023 – 1 p.m. CT
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OPENING TIP
SMU continues its non-conference slate against Air Force on Thursday afternoon. Tip off is slated for 1 p.m. in Moody Coliseum. 
Thursday's action can be seen on ESPN+, with live stats accessible at SMUMustangs.com/stats.

LAST TIME OUT 
SMU 69, Sam Houston 64 I Monday, Dec. 18
DALLAS (SMU)- Using Amirah Abdur-Rahim's second double-double of the season, including 15 points and a career-high 13 rebounds, the SMU Mustangs defeated the Sam Houston Bearkats 69-64 Monday night in Moody Coliseum.

SMU held Sam Houston to 29.7% shooting (22-74) from the field and outrebounded the Bearkats 53-40. 

Four Mustangs scored in double figures, led by Abdur-Rahim's 15. The senior forward added a career-high in assists with three and steals with two. Tamia Jones filled out the stat sheet, adding 11 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and three steals. Tiara Young added double-digit points for the 10th time this season with 10. She tallied six rebounds. Chantae Embry scored 12 points and grabbed six rebounds, and Reagan Bradley finished with seven points, six assists, and a season-high six rebounds. TK Pitts chipped in four points, eight boards, three assists, two blocks, and a steal. Jiya Perry finished with four points and two rebounds, and Maya Chandler added six.

A LOOK AT THE OPPONENT
Air Force
Air Force is 7-5 overall. The Falcons won three straight before falling to Clemson last time out, a 70-54 setback on Tuesday. 

UP TO THIS POINT
SMU is 5-5 overall. 
SMU enters Thursday's contest after back-to-back victories over La Tech and Sam Houston. 
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 shoots 45.7% from the field, ranking second in the league and top-50 nationally. The Mustangs shoot a 37.8 clip from beyond the arc, which ranks first in the conference and top-25 nationally.
SMU is top-five in the league in three other team categories, including scoring offense (72.7, 4th), assists per game (15.6, 2nd), and assist/turnover ratio (1.03, 2nd).

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 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 against Harvard. 

AAC'S BEST
Young was named the American Athletic Conference Player of the Week, the league announced 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. Young averaged 27 points per game. She added four rebounds, two assists, and a block against the Buffaloes.

A WALKING BUCKET
Former AAC Sixth Player of the Year Tiara Young is putting together an impressive season. 
Young earned a spot on the AAC Weekly Honor Roll on Monday after leading SMU with 17 points against La Tech. 
Young has scored double-digit points in all 10 games. Young averages 19.3 ppg, ranking third in the league and 43rd nationally. She has scored 193 points (3rd AAC, 54th nationally), on 53.4% shooting (3rd AAC/73rd nationally).
Young had a strong Mustang 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. She grabbed four rebounds and passed out two assists. Young scored 17 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and passed out three assists in the tournament finale on Saturday. 
Young scored 16 points and grabbed a season-high nine rebounds against No. 13 Baylor and turned in 22 points, six rebounds, and a season-high two steals against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. 
She enters the Air Force matchup after totaling 10 points versus Sam Houston.  

EMBRY PICKING UP WHERE SHE LEFT OFF
Chantae Embry is putting together another impressive season on the Hilltop. 
Embry is averaging 10.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. She's scored double-digit points five times this season, including 12 last time out against Sam Houston. 
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 an assist 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 then-No. 5 Colorado. 
Embry tallied 17 points and grabbed her 300th career rebound against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
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 8.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.9  assists (6th AAC) this season. 
Bradley has turned in double-digit scoring performances in five out of the Mustangs first 10 contests. 
Bradley has started 95 and played in 100 games at SMU.
Bradley turned in 10 points, four boards, and three assists in SMU's win over La Tech. 
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
357 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 9.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.4 blocks per game (3rd AAC). Abdur-Rahim has blocked 14 shots this season, which ranks fifth in the league.
She 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. She turned in a double-double (18 points, 11 rebounds), while adding four blocks, two steals, and an assist.
Abdur-Rahim enters the Air Force contest after scoring double-digit points in SMU's last three matchups. She chipped in 10 against Arkansas- Pine Bluff and finished with 16 points, four boards, two steals, and a block in SMU's win over La Tech. 
She turned in her second double-double of the season with 15 points and a career-high 13 rebounds against Sam Houston. She also posted career-highs in assists (3), and steals (2). 

FILLING UP THE STAT SHEET
Tamia Jones has done it all for the Mustangs so far this season.
Jones averages 10.2 points, 3.6 boards, 4.2 assists (4th AAC), and 3.1 steals (3rd AAC, 16th nationally) per game. 
Jones has recorded 31 total steals (2nd AAC, 20th nationally). 
Jones has tallied double-digit points six times this season, and enters the Air Force matchup after posting double figures in four out of the last five games. 
Jones enters Thursday's matchup after finishing with 11 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and three steals against Sam Houston, and nine points, five assists, four rebounds, four steals, and three blocks against La Tech. 
Jones tied career highs in assists (8) against Nicholls, and in points (17) against then-No. 13 Baylor.  

TK MAKIN' PLAYS
Sophomore guard TK Pitts has emerged as a key player for the Mustangs. 
Pitts is averaging 6.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game. 
Jones tallied four points, eight rebounds, a career-high two blocks, and season-high three rebounds last time out against Sam Houston. 
Pitts grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds against Nicholls and scored a career-high 12 points against Toledo. 
Pitts grabbed 10 boards for the second time this season against Arkansas- Pine Bluff.  

TAKING IT AWAY
SMU has recorded more steals than its opponent in six out of its 10 games. 
SMU tied a Moody Coliseum record with 16 steals against Alabama State on Nov. 11. 
SMU averages 1.6 more steals per game than its opponents per game (8.4-6.8)

HOME COOKING
The Mustangs outscore their opponents 74-66.7 in Moody Coliseum, shooting 46% to opponents' 40% this season.  
The Mustangs outshoot their opponents 38.7.1-28.6% from the three point line at home. 
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
SMU has outscored its opponents 74-66.7 through 10 games this season. 
SMU is outshooting opponents .460-.400, including a 38.7% clip from behind the arc. 
SMU has outrebounded its opponent in five games this season.
SMU has recorded more assists and blocks than its opponent five times this season. 
SMU has outshot its opponent from the field in seven games this season.
SMU has scored more fast break points than its opponent in six games and more points in the paint in five. 

SHOOTING STARS
SMU has outshot its opponents in seven games this season.
SMU is shooting 45.7% from the field, which ranks second in the American and 49th in the nation. 
SMU is shooting 37.8% from the three point line, which ranks first in the conference and 22nd in the NCAA.
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. 

MOODY MAGIC
SMU is 4-3 in Moody Coliseum. 
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).

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 in March.

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.

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. 13 Baylor, and fifth-ranked Colorado along with a matchup with Toledo who made 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.
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.