SMU (9-5, 1-1 ACC) vs 20/23 California (13-2, 1-1 ACC)
David B. Miller Court at Moody Coliseum – Dallas, Texas
Sunday, January 5, 2025 – 5 p.m. CT
TV: ACCN | Audio Streaming: SMU Mobile App
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// SMU WELCOMES (20/23) CALIFORNIA TO MOODY COLISEUM
The SMU women's basketball program continues its inaugural season in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) by hosting No. 20/23 California on Sunday at 5 p.m. CT inside Moody Coliseum. Fans can watch the game on ACCN or listen on the radio through the SMU Mobile App.
Sunday's game closes out the Mustangs' two-game homestand. Fans who attend the game will receive a white SMU x ACC t-shirt and take part in a post-game autograph session.
 
The Mustangs will look to continue their winning ways as the team enters the game on a four-game winning streak after SMU earned its first-ever  ACC victory, defeating Stanford 67-63 last time. It is the longest winning streak since strung together seven straight wins from Nov. 18-Dec. 7, 2022.
 
Center Jessica Peterson has recorded a double-double in three of her last four games and hauled in 16 or more rebounds in her last three 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 12.5. The center also is averaging a double-double this season.

Guard Nya Robertson has been turning heads all season long. She enters the game ranked 21st in the NCAA and third in the ACC in points per game (20.1) and total points (282). The star guard has scored over 20 points seven times this season, including last time out against Stanford, and has reached double-digits in every game. Robertson enters the game ranked inside the top five in the ACC in eight offensive categories.

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 made her last 15 free throw attempts. She ranks second in the ACC in foul shot percentage (88.9). 

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. Georgia Tech is No. 13, Duke is No. 14, North Carolina is No. 17, California climbed a spot to No. 20 and NC State is No. 22

SMU is in its fourth season under head coach Toyelle Wilson. The Mustangs are 54-49 under Wilson and have made the WNIT twice during her tenure.  She holds a career record of 109-92 in seven seasons of head coaching.

// THE MATCHUP

• Sunday will be the fourth overall meeting between the two programs and the first since 2022. SMU leads the overall series 3-0. 
• Both SMU and Cal are in its first season in the ACC.
• Last time the teams played SMU won 70-56 in Berkeley to win the Raising the B.A.R Invitational. Chantae Embry scored 13 points, while Ella Brow added six.
• It will be the first time the two teams have played each other in Moody since 1993.

 // HOME SWEET HOME

• After defeating Stanford in their last home game, the Mustangs are 29-10 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 7-1 at home this season and has won their past six home games this season.

// CLOSE CALLS

• SMU has fought till the very end in every game this season. All five of SMU's losses this season have been by single digits.

// SECOND CHANCE OPPORTUNITIES

• The Mustangs have collected 12 or more offensive rebounds in 13 of the team's 14 games this season, including the past 10 straight the most consecutive games with 12 plus offensive rebounds since the 2017-18 season. SMU is ranked 11^th nationally and leads the ACC in offensive rebounds per game (16.8).
• 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.
• SMU has dominated the paint all season long and ranks 11^th in the NCAA and first in the ACC in rebounds per game at 44.36. 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.

 // PRIME TIME PETERSON

• Jessica Peterson is amidst a career season. She has recorded a double-double in three of her last four games and has achieved the feat seven times this season, which ranks 13^th in the NCAA and first in the ACC.
• Peterson currently ranks third in the NCAA and leads the ACC in rebounds per game at 12.5 and is second in the NCAA and first in the ACC in total rebounds (175).
•  She also ranks 10^th in the NCAA / first in the ACC in defensive rebounds per game (8.0) and 12^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 enters the game averaging a double-double (12.5 reb / 10.6 pts) this season. She has recorded one in seven of the team's 14 games.
• 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 20.1 ppg and ranks 21st 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 (3rd in the NCAA- 265), third in total points (21^st in the NCAA- 282), three-point attempts (12^th in the NCAA- 110).
• Against Texas Tech, she scored 14 points in the fourth quarter to complete the comeback victory.
• 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 seven times this season, including scoring 29 points against UT Arlington. She has achieved the feat 26 times in her career.
• She has scored double-digit points in 21 consecutive games dating back to last season and reached double-digit points in 55 of her career 70 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. Over the last five games, she is averaging 12.4 points per game 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 3.9.
• 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 10 of 14 games played this season. She currently ranks second on the team in both points and rebounds (11.2 ppg / 7.2 rpg).

// HARD EARNED POINTS

• Embry had a career day at the foul line against ODU as she made 10 of her 11 foul shots; both were career-highs. She followed that performance up by going a perfect 7-of-7 from the line against Western Michigan.
• This season, she is 40-of-45 from the line and leads the team in foul line percentage at 88.9%, leading the ACC. She had made her last 15 foul shots and has been perfect from the line in her last five games (12-12).
• 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. 13  at 7 p.m. at Ozona Grill and Bar.