PITTSBURGH, Pa. (SMU) –   The SMU women's basketball program erased an 11-point halftime deficit behind 40 points from Zahra King to earn their first ACC win of the season, defeating Pitt 83-76 on Sunday inside the Petersen Events Center. 

King reached 40 points on an efficient 11-of-19 shooting and went 7-of-12 from beyond the arc and 11-of-13 at the line. She scored 29 of her 40 points in the second half to lead SMU to victory. Kings also had four assists and three assists in the game.

Her historic 40-point performance is the third-most points scored in a single game in program history and the most since Shawna Ford scored 42 against TCU in 1997. Her seven made three pointers are also tied for the second most in a single game in school history.

After trailing by 11 at the half, SMU (8-11, 1-6 ACC) scored 29 points in the third quarter and led Pitt (8-12, 1-6 ACC) by two heading into the fourth. King made her seventh pointer of the game to put SMU up eight points with six minutes to go.

After trading buckets, Pitt scored four straight and cut the lead to five with four left in the game. A steal by King, followed by a lay-up by Brown, put SMU back up nine just under three left. SMU kept the Panthers at arm's length down the stretch as the teams' press caused the Panthers havoc on the offensive end. After Pit cut the lead to five with 11 seconds remaining King was sent to the line where she eclipsed 40 points and iced the game for SMU.

The Mustangs shot 41% from the floor and went 10-of-25 from beyond the arc and 19-28 form the line. SMU forced 21 turnovers, 16 of which came in the second half and had 11 steals. Pitt Shot 49% from the field and had four players score in double figures, but it was not enough to prevent the Mustangs' comeback.

Anaya Brown was a force down low as she scored 20 points on 7-of-13 shooting. Brown has now scored over 20 points in back-to-back games, as 16 of her 20 points came in the second half. She also had four rebounds and two blocks.

Grace Hall had seven rebounds and 10 points, which included a key put-back bucket in the late fourth quarter to help secure the Mustangs' win.  

The win marked the Mustangs' first ACC win under head coach Adia Barnes.

Pitt started strong, opening the game on an 8-0 run. SMU caught fire from beyond the arc as the team made three straight three-pointers, two from King in response.  In total, SMU made five three-pointers in the quarter but still trailed at the end of the period. 

SMU continued to score quickly as King hit her third three-pointer early in the second quarter. But every time SMU seemed to generate momentum the Panthers had an answer. Brown led SMU with four points in the quarter, as a late run from Pitt increased the lead to double digits. 

As team SMU made six three pointers, King went 3-of-5 from downtown in the half and led the Mustangs with 11 points. Thompson chipped in six, Jah had five, and Gipson had three assists at the break. Pitt had three players in double figures and shot 46% from the floor and led 42-31at the half.

8-2 run to start the third for SMU. Brown got hot, scoring eight points in the first four minutes of the quarter as the Mustangs outscored Pitt 12-7 in that span. Zahra King gave SMU their first lead off the halfway in the period after hitting a corner three, putting SMU up 50-49.

King and Brown scored 15 and 13 apiece in the third quarter as the Mustangs outscored the Panthers 29-15 in the period and led by two heading to the fourth.

// UP NEXT
The Mustangs return to Moody Coliseum for a two-game home stand as the team will take on Florida State on Thursday, January 22, at 6:30 p.m., then host Miami on Sunday, January 25, at 3 p.m. Both games will air on ACCNX.

// OTHER NOTES

• In her first season at SMU, head coach Adia Barnes is now 8-11 and 177-125 overall in her career (10^th season).

// STEALS / TURNOVERS

• SMU ended the game with 13 steals.  
  • SMU entered the game ranked 3^rd in the ACC / 54^th in the NCAA in steals per game (10.6)
  • SMU has now totaled 204 steals this season.
    • Entered the game 4^th in the ACC in total steals.
• SMU forced 21 turnovers
  • SMU has now forced 318 turnovers this season
    • Entered the game 5^th in the ACC in turnovers forced per game (17.7) and in 6^th in total turnovers

// FIELD GOAL PERCENT

• SMU shot 41.5% from the field  
  • Zahra King shot 57.8% from the floor in the game
    • King entered the game leading all ACC guards in field goal percent (48.7%) and 8^th in the ACC overall.

// FREE THROWS

• SMU was 19-28 from the line
  • It was SMU's eighth game this season with 15 or more made free throws
    • Mustangs entered the game 7^th in the ACC in free throw attempts per game (17.3) and 8^th in the ACC in free throws made per game (12.4).

// BENCH POINTS

• SMU had 7 bench points
  • Entered the game 6^th in the ACC / 86^th in the NCAA in bench points per game (22.4).

// BLOCKS

• SMU had 5 blocks
  • Entered the game 6^th in the ACC / 51^st in the NCAA in blocks per game (4.4)
• Anaya Brown had 2 blocks
  • Brown entered the game ranked ninth in the ACC in total blocks (23)

// STARTERS  
Starters: Jazzy Gipson (#6, F, Fr.), Zahra King (#2, G, So.), Ayanna Thompson (#1, G, Sr.), Anaya Brown (4, F, Sr.), Grace Hall (#7, F, R-Sr.)