SMU (8-8; 2-3 AAC) vs North Texas (13-3; 3-1 AAC)
Moody Coliseum – Dallas, Texas
Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024– 7 p.m. CT
TV: ESPN+ I Live Stats
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OPENING TIP
SMU returns home to host North Texas on Wednesday night. 
Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. CT in Moody Coliseum.  
Wednesday's action can be seen on ESPN+, with live stats accessible at SMUMustangs.com/stats.

LAST TIME OUT 
UAB 84, SMU 75 I Sunday, Jan. 14
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (SMU)- Tiara Young totaled 32 points, but the SMU women's basketball team fell to UAB 84-75 on Sunday afternoon in Bartow Arena.

Young's 32 led SMU (8-8; 2-3 American Athletic Conference). The graduate guard added six rebounds, two steals, and an assist. Reagan Bradley scored double-digit points for the fourth consecutive game with 12. Bradley added five rebounds and five assists. Maya Chandler scored 13 points and passed out two assists, and Tamia Jones grabbed five boards and finished with five assists. 

Amirah Abdur-Rahim turned in six points, three boards, two assists, and a steal, and TK Pitts finished with five points, five rebounds, and two steals. Donavia Hall scored a career-high six points and added grabbed three rebounds. 

A LOOK AT THE OPPONENT
North Texas
North Texas is 13-3 overall and 3-1 in league play. The Mean Green finished their non-conference slate with a 10-2 record. Most recently, UNT defeated Wichita State 72-68 on Sunday. 

UP TO THIS POINT
SMU is 8-8 overall and 2-3 in the American. 
SMU shoots 36.1% from beyond the arc, ranking second in the American and 34th nationally. 
The Mustangs rank in the top-three in the conference in six other team categories. 
SMU shoots 44.1% from the field, ranking second in the league and 74th nationally. SMU's 71.8 points, 14.9 assists per game, 1.00 assist/turnover, and 21.69 free throw attempts per game rank second in the league. The Mustangs average 15 made free throws per game (3rd AAC). 
SMU won its home conference opener, a 57-52 victory over Florida Atlantic on Jan. 4. The Mustangs dropped their conference opener at South Florida.
SMU bounced back from a loss to Rice at the buzzer with a gritty 91-86 victory at Memphis on Jan. 11. SMU went on to split its pair of contests on the road trip after a 84-75 loss at UAB three days later. 
SMU closed out its non-conference slate with a 6-5 record, and entered league play riding a three game win streak. 
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.

GAME FOR THE AGES
Using Tiara Young's first double-double of the season, including a career-high 38 points and 15 rebounds, SMU  defeated Memphis 91-86 in double overtime on Jan. 11.
SMU was down to only four players after Tamia Jones fouled out with 56 seconds remaining. 
Tiara Young finished with 38 points, tying the third highest-scoring performance in SMU history and attempted the most free throws ever by a Mustang (24). 
SMU made 40 free throws, marking the most points from the charity stripe in program history. SMU attempted 60 free throws, marking the most attempts in program history
There were 75 combined fouls in Thursday's contest, marking the most combined fouls in NCAA history. The record broke 70 combined fouls from Oklahoma vs. Kentucky on Nov. 28, 2014. 
Thursday's contest also marked the most fouls in SMU history with the record previously being 33 at TCU on Jan. 25, 1997.
SMU scored 91 points, marking the second most points this season.
SMU grabbed a season-high 55 rebounds. 

AMERICAN AWARD WINNERS
Nov. 20- Tiara Young- Player of the Week
Dec. 18- Tiara Young- Weekly Honor Roll
Dec. 26- Amirah Abdur-Rahim- Weekly Honor Roll
Jan. 15- Tiara Yuong- Player of the Week

A WALKING BUCKET
Former AAC Sixth Player of the Year Tiara Young is putting together an impressive season. 
Young averages 19 points per game, which ranks second in the American and 35th nationally. She has scored 304 points (4th AAC, 43rd nationally), on 47.8% shooting (4th AAC). 
Young has scored double-digit points in 14 out of the Mustangs 16 games, including six 20+ point performances, three of which she eclipsed 30 points. 
Young was named the AAC Player of the Week for the second time this season after finishing with her first double-double of the season, including career-highs in points (38) and rebounds (15) in SMU's first conference road win at Memphis. Young is the only player in the NCAA to post 38 and 15 this season. She tied the third highest-scoring performance in SMU history and attempted the most free throws ever by a Mustang (22).Three days later, Young totaled 32 points, and added six rebounds at UAB. 
She started conference play tallying 17 points against South Florida. 
Young was crowned the AAC Player of the Week on Nov. 20 after posting 24 points and earning her 1000th career point against Nicholls to start the week. She added 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 the Mustangs with 18 points against Toledo and 17 in the tournament finale against Harvard.
Young was named to the AAC Weekly Honor Roll on Dec. 18 after turning in 29 points over two games.
Young scored 16 points and grabbed a season-high nine rebounds against then-No. 13 Baylor and turned in 22 points, six rebounds, and a season-high two steals against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. 

BRADLEY LEAVING HER MARK
Guard Reagan Bradley returned for her fifth season on the Hilltop. Bradley moved to fifth on SMU's all-time assist list on Jan. 7 after tallying four assists against Rice. 
Bradley moved to sixth on the list after tying her career high with nine against Alabama State. Bradley opened the season by moving to seventh on the list after passing out two against UC Riverside.
Bradley averages 9.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.8 assists (7th AAC), and 1.1 steals per game. She has turned in double-digit scoring performances in nine games this season, including 12+ in the last four games. 
Bradley has started 101 and played in 106 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
379 Reagan Bradley 2019-24
368 Missy Parker 1990-93
327 Tomi Hollis 1983-86
319 Alisha Filmore 2009-13

CAREER YEAR FOR ABDUR-RAHIM
Amirah Abdur-Rahim is putting together an impressive season.
The senior forward averages 10.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.6 blocks per game (3rd AAC, 64th nationally). Abdur-Rahim has blocked 26 shots this season, ranking second in the American and 56th nationally. 
Abdur-Rahim has posted double-digit points 10 times and enters Wednesday's contest after scoring double figures in seven out of the last nine games. 
Abdur-Rahim started league play on fire, posting double-digit scoring performances in the Mustangs first three American games. 
She tallied 10 points and four steals in the conference opener at South Florida.
Abdur-Rahim earned her fourth double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds to lead SMU to a 57-52 victory over Florida Atlantic. She tied her career-high with four blocks and added three steals. 
She scored a career-high 24 points against Rice. The senior forward grabbed seven rebounds, blocked four shots, and passed out three assists. 
Abdur-Rahim was named to the AAC Weekly Honor Roll following back-to-back double-doubles to close out non-conference play. She scored 15 points and grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds against Sam Houston to start the week. She turned in her second straight double-double with a career-high 19 points in SMU's dominating victory over Air Force. She added 11 rebounds, three blocks, and a steal.

FILLING UP THE STAT SHEET
Tamia Jones has done it all for the Mustangs so far this season.
Jones averages 9.6 points, 4 boards, 4 assists (6th AAC), and 2.1 steals (3rd AAC). Jones has recorded 34 total steals (3rd AAC).
Jones tied career highs in assists (8) against Nicholls, and points (17) against then-No. 13 Baylor.  
Jones has tallied double-digit points eight times and has turned in three plus steals in seven contests, including a career-high six against Alabama State. 
Jones has passed out at least five assists eight times.

TK MAKIN' PLAYS
Sophomore guard TK Pitts has emerged as a key role player for the Mustangs. 
Pitts is averaging 5.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game. 
Pitts put together one of her most complete performances of the year in SMU's win at Memphis. She finished with six points, and tallied a career-high five steals while grabbing 10 rebounds. 
Pitts closed out non-conference play with a career-high 13 points against Air Force. Pitts tallied a career-high two blocks, and season-high three rebounds against Sam Houston. 
Pitts has grabbed five plus rebounds in seven contests this season, including a career-high 10 boards three times (vs. Nicholls, vs. Arkansas- Pine Bluff, at Memphis). 

EMBRY GETTING IT DONE
Chantae Embry is putting together another impressive season on the Hilltop. 
Embry averages 9.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.3 steals per game.
Embry tallied double-digit points for the sixth time this season with 10 in the conference opener at South Florida. She added three rebounds and a steal. 
Embry started this season's campaign with a double-double, including 16 points and 12 rebounds against UC Riverside. 
Embry added 13 points, four rebounds, one steal and an assist against Alabama State and 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 turned in 17 points and grabbed her 300th career rebound against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

MOODY MAGIC
SMU is 6-4 in Moody Coliseum and finished its non-conference slate winning its last two games at home. 
SMU picked up a 57-52 win over Florida Atlantic in its home conference opener. 
SMU defeated Alabama State 96-47 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 71.3-62.8 in Moody Coliseum, shooting 45% to opponents' 37.4%.  
SMU outshoots its opponents 39.7.1-27.3% from the three point line at home. 
The Mustangs record 1.9 more assists than their opponents in Moody Coliseum. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
SMU has outscored its opponents 71.8-67.2 through 16 games this season. 
SMU outshoots its opponents .441-.385, including a 36.1% clip from behind the arc. 
SMU has outrebounded its opponent in eight games this season. 
SMU has recorded more assists than its opponent in nine games this season. 
SMU has blocked more shots than its opponent in eight games this season. 
SMU has outshot its opponent from the field in 12 games this season, and made more three-point field goals six times. 
SMU has scored more fast break and points than its opponent in eight games.
SMU has scored more points in the paint than its opponent in 10 games. 
SMU has tallied more bench and second-chance points than its opponent in five.
   
SHOOTING STARS
SMU has outshot its opponents in 11 games this season.
SMU is shooting 44.1% from the field, which ranks second in the American and 74th in the nation. 
SMU is shooting 36.1% from the three-point line, which ranks second in the conference and 34th in the NCAA.
SMU shot a season-best 50.8% (31-51) from the field to finish out non-conference play against Air Force. 
SMU shot a season-high 63.6% (7/11) from behind the arc, and 56.3% from the field against Alabama State. 
SMU shot over 50% from the field in their first two games of the season.  

GETTING DEFENSIVE
SMU has held five opponents under 55 points this season. 
SMU closed its non-conference slate holding Air Force to 25% shooting, marking the lowest shooting percentage by an opponent this season.
SMU has held eight foes under 40% shooting, and six between 40.0-49.9%. 
SMU is 4-0 when holding opponents below 60 points, and 2-0 when foes score under 50 points.

TAKING IT AWAY
SMU recorded more steals than its opponent in 10 games this season.
SMU tied a Moody Coliseum record with 16 steals against Alabama State on Nov. 11. 
SMU has tallied eight plus steals in eight out of the last nine games and 11 times total this season. 
The Mustangs have record 10 plus steals in four games. 

20-20 VISION 
Tiara Young owns six of the Mustangs seven 20+-point games this season, including three games where she dropped 30+ points: (20 vs. UC Riverside, 24 vs. Nicholls, 30 vs. Colorado, 22 vs. Arkansas- Pine Bluff, 38 at Memphis, at UAB, 32).
Amirah Abdur-Rahim posted a career-high 24 points on Jan. 7 against Rice. 

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. 

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.

AAC UNITY WEEK
Together We Stand is Jan. 27 to Feb. 4: The American Athletic Conference is committed to racial equality and continuous development of an environment that embraces and celebrates diversity, inclusion, advocacy, accountability, and education for student-athletes, coaches, conference staff, administrators, and our fans. As a component of our commitment to immediate and ongoing action, The American has established conference-wide "Unity Weeks" where student-athletes will wear special warm-up shirts, signifying their commitment to these principles. SMU's games during Unity Week are at Wichita State on Jan. 28 and at home versus Tulane on Feb. 1.