SMU (8-9; 2-4 AAC) at East Carolina (9-7; 2-3 AAC)
Minges Coliseum- Greenville, North Carolina
Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024– 1 p.m. CT
TV: ESPN+ I Live Stats
Audio Streaming: SMU App (Google Play | Apple App Store)
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OPENING TIP
SMU hits the road to face ECU on Saturday afternoon.
Tipoff is slated for 1 p.m. CT in Greenville, North Carolina.  
Saturday's action can be seen on ESPN+, with live stats accessible at SMUMustangs.com/stats.

UP TO THIS POINT
SMU is 8-9 overall and 2-4 in the American. 
SMU shoots 35.3% from beyond the arc, ranking second in the American and top-50 nationally. 
The Mustangs rank in the top-three in the conference in six other team categories. 
SMU averages 71.2 points per game (3rd AAC) on 43.8% shooting from the field (2nd AAC). The Mustangs 15.1 assists per game, and 1.02 assist/turnover ratio rank second in the league. 
SMU averages 21.41 free throw attempts per game (2nd AAC), and make 14.76 (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.

LAST TIME OUT 
UNT 76, SMU 61 I Wednesday, Jan. 17
DALLAS (SMU)— The SMU women's basketball team fell to North Texas 76-61 on Wednesday night in Moody Coliseum.

Tiara Young led SMU (8-9; 2-4 American Athletic Conference) with 16 points. The graduate guard grabbed six rebounds and tied her season-high with three steals. Reagan Bradley scored 13 points, passed out three assists, and recorded two steals. Tamia Jones tallied nine points and added five assists, a rebound, and a steal. Amirah Abdur-Rahim finished with eight points and seven boards. The senior forward passed out two assists and blocked three shots. 

Jiya Perry scored five points and added an assist, block, and steal, while Maya Chandler finished with five points. Donavia Hall chipped in four points, one rebound, and an assist. 

A LOOK AT THE OPPONENT
ECU
ECU is 9-7 overall and 2-3 in league play. The Pirates finished their non-conference slate with a 7-4 record. Most recently, ECU fell to Rice, an 80-67 setback at home. 

AMERICAN AWARD WINNERS
Nov. 20- Tiara Young- Offensive 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 18.8 points per game, which ranks second in the American and 35th nationally. She has scored 320 points (4th AAC, 32nd nationally), on 47.5% shooting (6th AAC). Young has attempted the third most free throws in the nation (118), and scored 85 points from behind the charity stripe, ranking third in the league and 15th in the NCAA. 
Young has scored double-digit points in 15 out of the Mustangs 17 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. 
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.

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 9.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists (7th AAC), and 1.2 steals per game. Bradley has passed out 64 assists this season, ranking sixth in the league. 
She has turned in double-digit scoring performances in 10 games this season, including 12+ in the last five games. 
Bradley has started 102 and played in 107 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
382 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 10.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.7 blocks per game (1st AAC, 57th nationally). Abdur-Rahim has blocked 29 shots this season, which also ranks atop the American and top-50 nationally. 
Abdur-Rahim has posted double-digit points 10 times and enters Saturday's contest after scoring double figures in seven out of the last 10 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 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 9.5 points, 3.8 boards, 4.1 assists (6th AAC), and 2 steals (4th AAC). Jones has recorded 35 total steals (4th 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 nine times.

TK MAKIN' PLAYS
Sophomore guard TK Pitts has emerged as a key role player for the Mustangs. 
Pitts is averaging 5.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.5 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, tallied a career-high five steals, and grabbed 10 rebounds. 
Pitts closed out non-conference play with a career-high 13 points against Air Force. Pitts added 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 10+ boards three times (vs. Nicholls, vs. Arkansas- Pine Bluff, at Memphis). 

EMBRY GETTING IT DONE
Embry averages 9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.2 steals per game.
Embry tallied double-digit points for the sixth time this season with 10 in the conference opener at South Florida. 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.

HOME COOKING
The Mustangs outscore their opponents 70.4-64 in Moody Coliseum, shooting 44.5% to opponents' 38.3%.  
SMU outshoots its opponents 38%-27.8% from the three-point line at home. 
The Mustangs record 1.5 more assists and steals than their opponents in Moody Coliseum. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
SMU has outscored its opponents 71.2-67.7 through 17 games this season. 
SMU outshoots its opponents .438-.390, including a 35.3% 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 nine 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 games.

SHOOTING STARS
SMU has outshot its opponents in 11 games this season.
SMU is shooting 43.8% from the field, which ranks second in the American.
SMU is shooting 35.3% from the three-point line, which ranks second in the conference and top-50 nationally. 
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.
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 11 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 nine out of the last 10 games and 12 times total. 
The Mustangs have record 10 plus steals in five 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 canceled 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.