NASHVILLE, Tenn. (SMU) – The SMU women's basketball program dropped another closely contested game, falling 70-67 to Saint Louis in the team's first game of the Music City Classic on Tuesday in Nashville.

After holding the advantage over the first two quarters, SMU (1-5, 0-0 ACC) found itself in a dogfight in the fourth quarter. Saint Louis (2-5, 0-0 A10) led going into the fourth quarter, but SMU battled back and retook the lead with seven minutes left in the game.

The Billikens responded with an 8-0 run and pushed the lead to seven with three minutes remaining. Zahra King, who finished the game with 14 points, answered for SMU, scoring four straight points to cut the lead to two with 1:20 remaining.

After a couple of missed field goals by both teams, Saint Louis led by four with 13 seconds left after making a pair of free throws. SMU would not go down quietly as Tyi Skinner made a corner three-pointer as the Mustangs trailed by one with six seconds in the game. SMU would have one more chance to tie the game after a pair of Billiken free throws, but the Mustangs ' game-tying three-point shot fell short, and Saint Louis held on for the win. SMU held Saint Louis to just 25% shooting in the fourth quarter (3-12), but SLU was 9-of-10 from the line.  

SMU started the game on fire, shooting 52% from the field in the first period, and finished at 36.2% from the field. The Mustangs forced 17 turnovers and recorded 11 steals, their fifth game this season with double-digit steals. SMU also had 17 fast break points and 30 bench points.

Saint Louis shot 38% from the floor in the game and was 23-of-27 from the line. Alexia Nelson led all scorers with 19 points as SLU outscored SMU 22-17 in the third quarter to get back in the game.

The Mustangs had three players finish in double figures, as Anaya Brown led the team in points with a season-high 15 and in rebounds with seven. Brown was also 6-of-8 from the line.

King scored 14 points with 10 coming in the second half. She also led SMU in steals with four. Skinner ended her night with 13 points as she was 2-of-5 from beyond the arc in the game.

Both team came out the gate shooting well as both teams traded buckets left and right. SMU pushed its lead to five after an Ayanna Thompson three-pointer late in the first.

The Mustangs pushed their lead to nine halfway in the second as Brown took over the game, scoring eight points in the quarter. SLU would rally back and cut the lead to one at the half. Saint Louis scored 22 points in the third and held a three-point advantage heading to the fourth. 

// UP NEXT
SMU returns to Trevecca Trojan Fieldhouse on Wednesday, November 26, to play its second game of the Music City Classic, taking on Winthrop at 3:30 pm CT.  The game will be streamed on BallerTV, and fans can also listen to the action on the SMU Mobile App. More information on the tournament can be found here. 

// OTHER NOTES

• In her first season at SMU, head coach Adia Barnes is now 1-5 and 170-119 overall in her career (10^th season)
• SMU is now 0-1 in neutral site games this season.
• Tuesday's game was the first meeting between the two programs.

// STEALS / TURNOVERS

• SMU ended the game with 11 steals.
  • SMU has recorded double-digit steals in five of its six games this season.
  • Kyla Deck had two steals and now has 17 steals this season. She entered the game 2^nd in the ACC in steals per game (3.8). 
• SMU entered the game ranked 2nd in the ACC in steals per game (12.6)
• SMU forced 17 turnovers .
  • SMU has now forced 114 turnovers this season
    • Entered the game fifth in the ACC in turnovers forced per game (20.2).

// BENCH POINTS

• SMU had 30 bench points
  • Entered the game 3^rd in the ACC in bench points per game (30.2).

// INDIVIDUAL NOTES
Starters: Tyi Skinner (#3, G, Gr.), Zahra King (#2, G, So.), Kyla Deck (12, G, Sr.), Ayanna Thompson(#1, G, Sr.) Miriam Ibezim (#33, F, R-Sr.)
 
Ayanna Thompson (#1, G, Sr.)

• 5 points

Zahra King (#2, G, So.)

• 14 points on 6-of-14 shooting
• 2 assists
• 4 steals

  Tyi Skinner (#3, G, Gr.)

• 13 points, 5-14 FG
• 2-5 three-point range.
• 3 assists

Anaya Brown (#4, F, Sr.)

• 15 points – season high
• 6-8 FT
• 2 steals

Grace Hall (7, F, R-Sr.)

• 6 rebounds
•  6 points