Box Score 
DALLAS (SMU) – The SMU women's basketball program used a dominant half to close out an 83-70 victory over Southern Miss on Monday inside Moody Coliseum.

SMU (3-5, 0-0 ACC) scored 45 points in the second half to take control of the game, leading by as much as 19 points. The Mustangs outscored Southern Miss (6-3, 0-0 Sun Belt) 19-12 in the third quarter and iced the game with a 10-0 run in the fourth to cruise to the win.

SMU shot 46% from the field in the game and had four players in double figures for the third time this season. The Mustangs were dialed in at the line, making 23-of-28 free throw attempts. SMU out-rebounded the Golden Eagles 40-28 and also held the advantage on bench points scored (19-7).

Leading the way for the Mustangs was Zahra King, who continued her hot streak, scoring a career-high 23 points, 14 of which came in the second half. King shot 8-of-14 from the field and was a perfect 3-of-3 from beyond the arc, tying her career high for most made in a game. The sophomore was also 4-of-5 from the line and had two steals.

Coming off a 27-point performance last game, Tyi Skinner picked up right where she left off, scoring 18 points and totaling a season-high five assists. Skinner was 7-of-8 from the line and scored 11 points in the second half.

Miriam Ibezim recorded her first double-double of the season and the second of her career as she totaled 10 points and 10 rebounds. Ibezim was a perfect 5-of-5 from the field in the game.

Kyla Deck finished her night with 11 points, going 4-of-4 from the line, and had two steals. Anaya Brown also chipped in nine points and seven rebounds.

Up four at the break, SMU came out swinging in the second half, looking to take control of the game. The Mustangs pushed the lead to nine after five straight points from King to start the third.

After trading buckets, SMU increased the lead to double digits after a Brown corner three. The Mustangs continued to push the pace and went on a 6-0 run late in the third, highlighted by an Ibezim tough layup to go up 14 points.

Heading into the fourth up 11, SMU was ready to put the game out of reach and did just that. Behind six points from Skinner and four from Deck, the Mustangs went on a 10-0 run halfway through the fourth to go up 19 points. Southern Miss cut the lead to 12 with one minute to go, but four made foul shots from King put the finishing touches on the Mustangs' second win in a row.
 
// UP NEXT
The Mustangs host Arkansas as part of the ACC/SEC Challenge on Thursday, December 4, at 6 pm on ACCN. The game will be the second of a four-game homestand for the Mustangs as SMU will also host Syracuse (Dec.7) and Coppin State (Dec. 10).

// OTHER NOTES

• In her first season at SMU, head coach Adia Barnes is now 3-5 and 172-119 overall in her career (10^th season)
• SMU is now 2-2 in home games this season.
• SMU is now 7-4 against Southern Miss

// STEALS / TURNOVERS

• SMU ended the game with 8 steals.
  • SMU entered the game ranked 3rd in the ACC in steals per game (12.0)
    • Kyla Deck had two steals and now has 29 steals this season. She entered the game 3^rd in the ACC in steals per game (3.86). 
• SMU forced 15 turnovers.
  • SMU has now forced 136 turnovers this season
    • Entered the game 4^th in the ACC in turnovers forced per game (20.0).

// BLOCKS

• SMU had 5 blocks
  • Miriam Ibezim led SMU with two.
  • Mustangs entered the game 5^th in ACC / 41^st in the NCAA in blocked shots (5.0).

// RUNS

• SMU had an 10-0 run at 5:02 in the fourth quarter
  • It was the team's fifth 10-0 or more scoring run this season.

 
// OFFENSIVE REBOUNDS

• SMU had 13 offensive rebounds
  • SMU entered the game 3^rd in the ACC / 38^th in the ACC in offensive rebounds per game (15.6)

//EFFICIENT OFFENSE

• SMU shot 46% from the field
  • Zahra King was 8-14 (57%) shooting. Entered the game 6^th in the ACC in field goal percentage (55.9%).

// BENCH POINTS

• SMU had 19 bench points
  • Entered the game 3^rd in the ACC in bench points (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, Sr.)
Zahra King (#2, G, So.)

• 23 points on 8-of-14 shooting – Career High Point total
• 2 assists
• 2 steals
• 3-3 3-point FG / 4-5 FT

  Tyi Skinner (#3, G, Gr.)

• 18 points, 5-14 FG
• 7-8  FT
• 5 assists – season high

Anaya Brown (#4, F, Sr.)

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

Miriam Ibezim (#33, F, Sr.)

• First double double this season
• 10 points, 10 rebounds
• 2 blocks