SMU (9-6, 1-2 ACC) at Syracuse (6-8, 0-3 ACC)
JMA Wireless Dome  – Syracuse, N.Y.
Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025 – 9:30 a.m. CT
TV: ACCNX | Audio Streaming: SMU Mobile App
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// SMU HITS THE ROAD TO FACE SYRACUSE
The SMU women's basketball program continues its inaugural season in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) by traveling to Up-State New York to face Syracuse on Thursday inside the JMA Wireless Dome. Fans can watch the game on ACCNX or listen on the radio through the SMU Mobile App.

Thursday's game is the first in a two game road trip for the Mustangs. Following the game the team will head to Pittsburgh to play Pitt on Sunday. The Mustangs will look to bounce back after falling to California last time out. The Mustangs split last week's games as the team earned its first-ever ACC victory, defeating Stanford 67-63 last Thursday. SMU enters the game with three players averaging double-digit points this season: Nya Robertson (20.3), Chantae Embry (11.7) and Jessica Peterson (10.6).

Center Jessica Peterson has recorded a double-double in three of her last five games and hauled in 13 or more rebounds in her last four 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 20th in the NCAA and third in the ACC in points per game (20.3) and 18^th in the NCAA and third in the ACC in total points (282). The star guard has scored over 20 points eight times this season, including in back-to-back games against Cal and Stanford. 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.

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 (88.7).

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. 19, NC State moved up to No. 21 and Cal sits at No. 24.

SMU is in its fourth season under head coach Toyelle Wilson. The Mustangs are 54-50 under Wilson and have made the WNIT twice during her tenure.  She holds a career record of 109-93 in seven seasons of head coaching.

// THE MATCHUP

• Thursday will be the first overall meeting between the two programs.
• Syracuse enters the game on a two game losing streak after dropping contests to Georgia Tech and Florida State on the road. The Orange are still in search of their first ACC win 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 13 of the team's 15 games this season, including 10 of the past 11. Before only recording eight against Cal the team had 10 straight games of 12 or more offensive rebounds, most consecutive games with 12 plus offensive rebounds since the 2017-18 season. SMU is ranked 12^th nationally and leads the ACC in offensive rebounds per game (16.2).
• 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 17^th in the NCAA and second in the ACC in rebounds per game at 43.33. 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 three ACC conference games, three Mustangs are averaging double-digits per game and are 1-2 overall.
•  Nya Robertson is averaging 20.7 points per game and is coming off back-to-back 20-plus points games against Cal and Stanford.
•  Zanai Jones is scoring 14.3 points per game and recorded her first career 20-point game against Stanford.
• 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. She has recorded a double-double in three of her last four games and has achieved the feat seven times this season, which ranks 17^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 11^th in the NCAA / second in the ACC in defensive rebounds per game (7.9) and 7^th in the NCAA / second in the ACC in offensive rebounds per game (4.7).
• 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 / 10.5 pts) this season. She has recorded one in seven of the team's 15 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 20.3 ppg and ranks 20st 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- 285), third in total points (21^st in the NCAA- 304), and second in three-point attempts (12^th in the NCAA- 120).
• 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 eight times this season, including scoring 29 points against UT Arlington. She has achieved the feat 27 times in her career.
• She has scored double-digit points in 22 consecutive games dating back to last season and reached double-digit points in 56 of her career 71 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 14.5 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 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 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

• 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 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. 13  at 7 p.m. at Ozona Grill and Bar.

// FIRST-EVER ACC WIN

• Behind 20-point performances from guards Nya Robertson and Zanai Jones, the SMU women's basketball program held off Stanford 67-63 to secure its first-ever ACC victory.
• Up by one with 16 seconds left in the game Jones, who was already having a career game, took matters into her own hands, driving hard left through traffic and got the layup to fall after bouncing off the back of the rim, putting SMU up 66-63. SMU forced a desperation shot from the Cardinal that the Mustangs corralled as TK Pitts iced the game at the line to give SMU the four-point victory.
• Jones recorded a career-high 20 points on an efficient 9-15 shooting. She also added five assists, four rebounds, two blocks and two steals in her complete game performance.
• Robertson tallied a game-high 21 points, marking her seventh 20-point game of the season. She was 4-of-9 from beyond the arc and added two steals. It was the first time this season SMU had two players score 20 or more points in the same game.