Box Score | Final Game Book  | Post Game Press Conference

DALLAS (SMU) –  The SMU women's basketball team battled but fell to No. 20 California 81-66 on Thursday inside Moody Coliseum.

Both teams were making baskets left and right as the Mustangs tied their season high in three-pointers made with nine and shot 39.7% from the floor, but were outshot by Cal, who made 10 three-pointers and shot 50% from the floor.

The Mustangs kept pace with the Golden Bears in the first half. SMU fought hard and would go a 12-2 run late in the second period as Chantae Embry connected on two from beyond the arc. SMU made their last 6-of-8 field goals to end the second and was a perfect 4-of-4 from deep in the period. The Mustangs trailed 36-40 at the half despite shooting 48% from the floor and hitting 6-of-10 from three-point range.

Cal took over in the third and outscored SMU 24-15. The Golden Bears hit three threes in the first four minutes of the third and extended the lead to double-digits. Cal entered the game ninth in the NCAA in three-pointers made for the game. The Bears' lead continued to grow as SMU tried to keep pace. Nya Robertson scored 13 points in the fourth quarter but it was not enough to cut down the California lead.

SMU is now 9-6 (1-2 ACC) overall, while California is now 14-2 (2-1 ACC).

Robertson led all scorers with 22 points, shooting 8-of-20 from the floor and hitting three from beyond the arc. It marked her eighth 20-point game of the season and her third scoring 20 points in back-to-back games.

Embry had her 11^th double-figure scoring game of the season as she ended her night with 12 points, shooting 3-of-4 from deep, while Ella Brow reached double-figures for the second time this season with 10 points.

 // NEXT GAME
at Syracuse  | Thursday, Jan. 9 | JMA Wireless Dome | 9:30 a.m. CT | TV: ACCNX | Radio: SMU App (Google Play | Apple App Store)
// NOTES

• Starters: #1 Zanai Jones (G, Gs.), #3 Nya Robertson (G, Jr.), #2 TK Pitts (G, Jr.), #33 Chantae Embry (F, Sr.), #35 Jessica Peterson (C, Sr.)- 13th game this season with this lineup
• SMU is now 7-2 at home
• SMU is now 3-1 vs California.

// ADDITIONAL NOTES

• Zanai Jones (#1 G, Gs)
  • 6 points, 5 assists 3-11 FG
  • 6^th game this season with five assists.
• Nya Robertson (#3 G, Jr.)
  • 22 points, 8-20 FG, 3-10 FG, 3-3 FT
  • Scored in double figures for the 22^nd  game in a row dating back to last season
  • 56^th career game scoring in double figures
  • 8^th game this season with 20 points scored
  • 27^th career 20-point game
•  Jessica Peterson (#35 C, Sr.)
  • 8 points, 13 rebounds, 3-9 FG,
  • Entered the game third in the NCAA in rebounds per game (12.5)
  • 11th game this season in double-figure rebounding