SMU (7-6; 1-1 AAC) vs Rice (7-5; 1-0 AAC)
Moody Coliseum – Dallas, Texas
Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024– 2 p.m. CT
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OPENING TIP
SMU continues American Athletic Conference playing hosting its second home game of the week against Rice. 
Tip off is slated for 2 p.m. CT in Moody Coliseum. 
Sunday's  action can be seen on ESPN+, with live stats accessible at SMUMustangs.com/stats.

LAST TIME OUT 
SMU 57, Florida Atlantic 52 I Thursday, Jan. 4
DALLAS (SMU)- Using Amirah Abdur-Rahim's fourth double-double of the season, including 10 points and 10 rebounds, the SMU Mustangs defeated Florida Atlantic 57-52 in its home conference opener on Thursday night in Moody Coliseum.  

Tamia Jones led SMU (7-6; 1-1 American Athletic Conference) with 16 points. She grabbed four rebounds and added three assists and two steals. Reagan Bradley scored 12 points, grabbed five rebounds, passed out seven assists, and recorded four steals. Bradley scored her 800th career point and moved to fifth on SMU's all-time assists list. Tiara Young scored six points and grabbed seven rebounds. The graduate guard passed out two assists and finished with a block and a steal. Maya Chandler tallied six points, and a season-high three steals. Jiya Perry grabbed five rebounds and added three points and a block. TK Pitts finished with two points, two rebounds, and three assists, and Donavia Hall chipped in two points and three boards. 

A LOOK AT THE OPPONENT
Rice
Rice is 7-5 overall and 1-0 in league play. The Owls won their conference opener, a 76-64 victory over Wichita State in Houston.

UP TO THIS POINT
SMU is 7-6 overall and 1-1 in the American. 
The Mustangs enter Sunday's contest after winning their home conference opener, a 57-52 victory on Thursday night in Moody Coliseum. 
SMU ranks atop the league in two team statistical categories. SMU shoots a 39% clip from beyond the arc, which ranks first in the American and seventh in the NCAA. SMU's 15.5 five assists per game rank first in the conference and 81st nationally. 
The Mustangs shoot 45% from the field, ranking second in the league and 59th nationally. The Mustangs 1.04 assist/turnover ratio ranks second in the American and 70th nationally. 
SMU closed out its non-conference slate with a 6-5 record, and entered conference 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.

AAC'S BEST
SMU senior forward Amirah Abdur-Rahim was named to the American Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll, the league announced on Dec. 26. Abdur-Rahim scored 15 points and grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds against Sam Houston. She turned in her second straight double-double with a career-high 19 points in SMU's dominating victory over Air Force.

WEEKLY 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

A WALKING BUCKET
Former AAC Sixth Player of the Year Tiara Young is putting together an impressive season. 
Young averages 17.1 points per game, ranking sixth in the league and 75th in the NCAA. She has scored 222 points (7th AAC), on 48.8% shooting (3rd AAC). 
Young has scored double-digit points in 11 out of the Mustangs 13 games. She started conference play tallying 17 points last time out 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.
She 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 sixth on SMU's All-Time Assists list 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 averages 8.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.8 assists (7th AAC) this season and is one assist away from moving to No. 5 on SMU's all-time list. 
Bradley has turned in double-digit scoring performances in six games this season. 
Bradley has started 98 and played in 103 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
368 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 10.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 1.6 blocks per game (3rd AAC). Abdur-Rahim has blocked 21 shots this season, which ranks 3rd in the league.
Abdur-Rahim has posted double digit points nine times and enters Sunday's contest after six consecutive games in double figures. 
Abdur-Rahim turned in her fourth double-double of the season, with 10 points and 10 rebounds, along with tying her career-high of four steals for the second consecutive game against Florida Atlantic. Adur-Rahim scored 10 points and recorded four steals in SMU's conference opener at South Florida. 
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 10.8 points, 3.6 boards, 4 assists (6th AAC), and 2.6 steals (3rd AAC, 49th nationally). Jones has recorded 33 total steals (3rd AAC, 45th nationally). 
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 at least three steals in seven out of 13 starts, including a career-high six against Alabama State. 
Jones has passed out at least five assists six times.

TK MAKIN' PLAYS
Sophomore guard TK Pitts has emerged as a key role player for the Mustangs. 
Pitts is averaging 6.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game. 
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 five contests this season, including a career-high 10 boards against Nicholls and Arkansas- Pine Bluff. 

EMBRY PICKING UP WHERE SHE LEFT OFF
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 6-3 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 72.2-62.6 in Moody Coliseum, shooting 45.6% to opponents' 37.3%.  
SMU outshoots its opponents 39.8.1-26.4% from the three point line at home. 
The Mustangs outrebound their opponents 38.3-37.9, and average 1.6 more assists in Moody Coliseum. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
SMU has outscored its opponents 70.8-64.6  through 13 games this season. 
SMU outshoots its opponents .450-.383, including a 39% clip from behind the arc. 
SMU has outrebounded its opponent in six games this season.
SMU is 7-0 when recording more assists and 6-1 when recording more blocks than its opponents. 
SMU has outshot its opponent from the field in nine games this season, and made more three-point field goals six times. 
SMU has scored more fast break and points in the paint than its opponent in seven games this season. 
SMU has tallied more bench points in five games and more second-chance points in four.   

SHOOTING STARS
SMU has outshot its opponents in nine games this season.
SMU is shooting 45% from the field, which ranks second in the American and 59th in the nation. 
SMU is shooting 39% from the three point line, which ranks first in the conference and seventh in the NCAA.
SMU shot a season-best 30.8% (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 six foes under 40% shooting, and five 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 eight 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 six straight games and nine times total this season. The Mustangs have record 10 plus steals in four games. 
SMU averages 1.3 more steals per game than its opponents (8.6-7.3).

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.