SMU (10-7, 2-3 ACC) vs 14/14 North Carolina (15-3, 3-2 ACC)
David B. Miller Court at Moody Coliseum – Dallas, Texas
Thursday, January 16, 2025 – 7 p.m. CT
TV: ACCNX | Audio Streaming: SMU Mobile App
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// MUSTANGS HOST NO. 14 NORTH CAROLINA
The SMU women's basketball program continues its inaugural season in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) by hosting No. 14 North Carolina on Thursday at 7 p.m. CT inside Moody Coliseum.  Fans can watch the game on ACCNX or listen on the radio through the SMU Mobile App.

Thursday's game is a blackout and  fans are encouraged to wear black. The first 250 fans in attendance will also receive a SMU "Horse Power" black t-shirt.

The Mustangs will look to bounce back and use their home court to its advantage after falling on the road to Pitt last time out. SMU is 7-2 at home this season.
 
Against Pitt, SMU went 12-of-33 from beyond the arc. It was the second-most three-pointers taken in and the ninth-most made in a single game in school history. The team also held Pitt to just one field goal in the first quarter (1-12).
 
SMU enters the game with two players averaging double-digit points this season: Nya Robertson (20.9) and Chantae Embry (11.7). In ACC games, Robertson (22.5), Zanai Jones (11.2), and Embry (11.3) are all averaging double figures.
 
Guard Nya Robertson has been turning heads all season long. She enters the game, scoring 22.6 points per game in ACC games and has scored 20 or more points in the past four games. It is the first time in her career that many 20-point games in a row. This season, she has scored 20 or more points 10 times. She is one of three players in the ACC to have 10 or more 20-point games this season.

She is the first Mustang since McKenzie Adams during the 2017-18 season to score 20 or more points in three straight games and is the first Mustangs to record 10 or more 20-point games since Adams did during that same season.
Robertson enters the game ranked 11th in the NCAA and third in the ACC in points per game (20.9). She is second in the NCAA in field goal attempts (330) and 13^th in the NCAA and third in the ACC in total points (355). She has reached double-digits in every game this season. Robertson enters the game ranked inside the top five in the ACC in eight offensive categories.

Center Jessica Peterson hauled in 13 or more rebounds in four of her last six games, including 16 against Stanford. Against North Texas, she recorded 19 rebounds, marking her second game of 19 or more rebounds this season. She enters the game ranked third in the NCAA and first in the ACC in rebounds per game 12.1 and is one of two ACC Players to record a 20-rebound game this season. 

Chantae Embry recorded her first double-double of the season against North Texas and averaged 14.5 points across both games at the Evan Moore Classic. Embry has been automatic at the foul line this season as she has is third in the ACC in free throw percentage (87.2).

The ACC has posted 159 victories through the non-conference portion of the regular season, including 27 victories against power conferences and 10 wins against ranked teams. Six ACC teams are currently ranked in the Associated Press (AP) Top 25, headlined by Notre Dame remaining at No. 3. North Carolina moved up five spots to No. 14, followed by Duke at No.16, Georgia Tech at No. 17, Cal at No. 18 and NC State at No. 21

SMU is in its fourth season under head coach Toyelle Wilson. The Mustangs are 55-51 under Wilson and have made the WNIT twice during her tenure.  She holds a career record of 110-94 in seven seasons of head coaching.

// THE MATCHUP

• Thursday's game will be the first overall meeting between the two programs. North Carolina ranks 12th in the nation in field goal defense percentage (34.7) and scoring defense (54.4)
• The Tar Heels are on a two game winning streak that includes an overtime victory over Duke and defeating Boston College 80-67 at home last time out. UNC is 2-0 on the road this season

 // HOME SWEET HOME

• The Mustangs are 29-11 at home over the last three seasons. Before conference play began, the Mustangs won nine of their previous 10 home non-conference games dating back to last season.
• SMU is 7-2 at home this season and has won five of its last six home games. The Mustangs defeated Stanford 67-73 at home to earn their first-ever ACC win.

// SECOND CHANCE OPPORTUNITIES

• The Mustangs have collected 12 or more offensive rebounds in 15 of the team's 17 games this season, including 12 of the past 13. SMU collected 18 offensive rebounds against Syracuse and has had at least 18 in eight games this season.
• Before only recording eight against Cal the team had 10 straight games of 12 or more offensive rebounds, the most consecutive games with 12 plus offensive rebounds since the 2017-18 season. SMU is ranked 13^th nationally and leads the ACC in offensive rebounds per game (16.1).
• SMU has recorded 20 or more offensive rebounds five times this season. The five games are the most 20+ offensive rebound games in a single season since the team had seven during the 2019-20 season.
• The Mustangs have dominated the paint all season long and rank 15^th in the NCAA and second in the ACC in rebounds per game at 43.18. SMU has hauled in over 50 rebounds three times this season, including twice in its last three games. Against Chicago State, the team recorded a season-high of 53, which is tied for the most since the 2019-20 season.

// CONFERENCE PLAY UNDERWAY

• Through four ACC conference games, three Mustangs are averaging double-digits per game and as SMU is 2-3 overall in ACC games.  
•  Nya Robertson is averaging 20.9 points per game and is coming off her fourth straight 20-plus-point games, including a 28-point performance against Syracuse.
•  Zanai Jones is averaging 11.2 points per game and recorded her first 20-point game against Stanford. Jones has also been dishing out the ball at an elite level recording 5.8 assists a game in ACC play.
• Chantae Embry sits at 11.3 points per game and is 7-14 from three-point range in those contests.

 // PRIME TIME PETERSON

• Jessica Peterson is amidst a career season as she currently ranks third in the NCAA and leads the ACC in rebounds per game at 12.1 and is second in the NCAA and first in the ACC in total rebounds (206).
• Peterson also ranks 14^th in the NCAA / second in the ACC in defensive rebounds per game (7.7) and 8^th in the NCAA / second in the ACC in offensive rebounds per game (4.5).
• Against UTA, she hauled in a career-high 21 rebounds, the second most by a player in a single game in program history. She is now the seventh player in school history to record 20 or more rebounds and the first since Dai'ja Thomas had 22 vs East Carolina 1/13/18 (Tied School Record).
• Peterson has been a force on both sides of the ball recently as she recorded a career-high six blocks against UAPB. It was the most blocks by an individual Mustang in a game since Alicia Froling had seven against Wichita St in 2019.

// SEEING DOUBLE

• Jessica Peterson has recorded a double-double in three of her last six games and has achieved the feat seven times this season, which ranks 27^th  in the NCAA and second in the ACC.
• Chantae Embry recorded her first double-double of the season against North Texas, bringing her career total up to nine. Her and Peterson are the only Mustangs to record a double-double this season.
• Peterson recorded her first career and the Mustang's first double-double of the season against N.C. A&T. She finished the game with 16 points and 11 rebounds and joined Chantae Embry and Kaysia Woods as the only Mustangs on the roster to have recorded a double-double in their careers.

 // A WALKING BUCKET

• Nya Robertson has had a strong start to the season. She currently averages 20.9 ppg and ranks 11th in the NCAA and third in the ACC in scoring.
• She is on pace this season to be the first Mustangs to average over 20 points a game since Keena Mays averaged 21.0 ppg during the 2013-14 season.
• Robertson has showcased her scoring ability all season long, and she enters the game ranked first in the ACC in field goal attempts (2nd in the NCAA- 330), third in total points (13^th in the NCAA- 355), and second in three-point attempts (6^th in the NCAA- 138).
• Against Texas Tech, she scored 14 points in the fourth quarter to complete the comeback victory.
• She scored 28 points and tied her career-high in field goals made (12) against Syracuse. The guard shot 48% from the field (12-25), which was her best shooting performance of the season.
• Robertson went 10-26 from the field in against UTA; her 26 attempts are tied for the sixth most in program history by a single player and the most since Kayla White took 28 shots vs. APBU in 2021.
• Robertson has scored over 20 points 10 times this season, including scoring 29 points against UT Arlington. She has achieved the feat 29 times in her career.
• She has scored double-digit points in 24 consecutive games dating back to last season and reached double-digit points in 58 of her career 73 games played.
• Robertson reached the 1,000 career point milestone in the third quarter against Arkansas Pine Bluff.  It only took her 63 career games (56 at George Washington / 7 at SMU) to reach the milestone.
• Against Old Dominion, scored a season-high 29 points, which was the most points by a Mustang inside Moody Coliseum since Kayla White scored 34 against East Carolina on Jan. 13, 2022.

// FLOOR GENERAL Z

• Point guard Zanai Jones has been on a tear recently. She is averaging 11.2 points per game in conference action and was huge in the win over Stanford scoring a career-high 20 points and added five assists. She leads the team in assists per game at 4.2.
• She has had at least five assists in the past four games and is averaging 5.8 during conference play.
• Against Texas Tech, she had a career-high eight assists and no turnovers. It is the second time this season she has had seven assists with no turnovers, and it was the most assists by a Mustang without a turnover since Alisha Filmore had eight against Houston in 2011.

// LIGHTS OUT EMBRY

• Chantae Embry shined in the team's ACC opener versus Florida State. Embry ended her night with a season-high 22 points on 8-15 shooting while going 4-7 from deep. Her four three-pointers tied her career high, and it was her first 20-point game this season.
• Embry scored in double digits in 11 of 15 games played this season. She currently ranks second on the team in both points and rebounds (11.7 ppg / 6.9 rpg).

// HARD EARNED POINTS

• Nya Robetson tied her career in both free throw makes and attempts by going 9-of-12 from the line against Pitt. She is 74-of-91 from the stripe this season and second on the team in free throw percentage (81.3)
• Chantae Embry had a career day at the foul line against ODU, making 10 of her 11 foul shots, both career highs. She followed that performance up by going a perfect 7-of-7 from the line against Western Michigan.
• This season, Embry is 41-of-47 from the line and leads the team in foul line percentage at 87.2%, third in the ACC.
• Her 10 free throws made against ODU were the most made by a Mustang since Tiara Young went 18-22 from the stripe against Memphis last season on Jan. 1, 2024.

// THE HILLTOP HOOPS SHOW

• The Hilltop Hoops Show presented by the SMU Cox School of Business features SMU Men's Basketball Head Coach Andy Enfield and Women's Basketball Head Coach Toyelle Wilson. The next show is scheduled for Jan. 20  at 7 p.m. at Ozona Grill and Bar.