DALLAS (SMU) – The SMU women's basketball program had three players in double figures as the team fell 73-51 to Florida State on Thursday inside Moody Coliseum.

After a closely contested first half, SMU (7-13, 2-6 ACC), which has been dealing with injuries of late, was unable to keep pace with Florida State (7-13, 2-6 ACC) down the stretch.

SMU recorded 15 steals, forced 21 turnovers, scoring 22 points off them, but it was not enough to keep up with FSU, which made 12 three-pointers in the game. The Mustangs also had a cold shooting night, finishing at 33% from the field and making only three from beyond the arc, while the Seminoles finished at 40% shooting and hauled in 56 rebounds.

The Mustangs recorded their 13^th game with double-digit steals this season, the most in a single season since 2019-20 (13) and forced 20-plus turnovers for the ninth time this year, which is also the most since 2019-20 (12).

Anaya Brown was one rebound away from a double-double as she ended her night with 10 points and nine rebounds. Brown also had a season high of four blocks and four steals in the game.

Sahnya Jah scored in double figures for the fifth time this season and led SMU with 14 points. Jah was 6-13 from the floor and had a career high five steals.

Zahra King totaled 11 points, five rebounds, and led SMU with three assists. King has now scored double-digit points in her last five games.

It was a slow start to the game for both teams. Brown hit a free throw to get SMU on the board three minutes into the game while FSU missed its first six shots. The Mustangs jumped out to a 6-2 lead before Florida State went on an 11-0 run and regained the advantage. Brown hit her second three-pointer of the quarter to end the Seminole run. Brown had seven points in the first.

SMU kept applying pressure, resulting in turnovers. Thompson tied the game at 18 apiece after a tough and one finish. Scoring stalled for a good stretch of the quarter before FSU found a groove and pushed the lead to six at the half. FSU's Jasmine Shavers hit five threes in the first half and led all scorers with 17 points. She led all scorers with 22 points and was 6-of-10 from three-point range.

The Mustangs forced 14 turnovers, which resulted in 11 points for SMU in the first half. Brown led the Mustangs with seven, while Thompson added five.

Florida State pushed its lead to double-digits after scoring 11 straight points to start the second half. SMU responded with a 9-3 run highlighted by a King three-pointer. The Mustangs struggled to find a rhythm the rest of the period as FSU outscored the Mustangs 24-13 in the quarter and led 54-37 heading into the fourth.

FSU led by as much as 25 in the fourth. Jah led the charge in the fourth for SMU to get back in the game, scoring five points in the quarter, but the Mustangs were unable to generate enough stops on defense to cut down the lead.

// UP NEXT
The Mustangs close out the weekend inside Moody Coliseum, taking on Miami on Sunday, January 25, at 3 p.m. 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 15 steals. 
  • 13th game this season with double-digit steals, which ties the most in a single season since the 2019-20 season.
  • SMU entered the game ranked 3^rd in the ACC / 52^nd in the NCAA in steals per game (10.7)
  • SMU has now totaled 219 steals this season.
    • Entered the game 3^rd in the ACC in total steals.
• SMU forced 21 turnovers
  • SMU has now forced 360 turnovers this season
    • 9^th game this season with 20 or more turnovers forced. Most since the 2019-20 season (13).
    • Entered the game 5^th in the ACC in turnovers forced per game (17.8) and in 6^th in total turnovers

// FIELD GOAL PERCENT

• SMU shot 33.9% from the field 
  • Zahra King was 4-13 from the floor in the game
    • King entered the game leading all ACC guards in field goal percent (49.5%) and 8^th in the ACC overall.
    • King also entered the game 10^th in the ACC in total field goals made (104), eighth in total points (281), and 10^th in points per game (14.8)

// FREE THROWS

• SMU was 8-17 from the line
  • Mustangs entered the game 6^th in the ACC in free throw attempts per game (17.3) and 7^th in the ACC in free throws made per game (12.7).

// BENCH POINTS

• SMU had 24 bench points
  • Entered the game 8^th in the ACC in bench points per game (21.6).

// BLOCKS

• SMU had 7 blocks
  • Entered the game 6^th in the ACC / 48^th the NCAA in blocks per game (4.4)
• Anaya Brown had a season high 4 blocks
  • Brown entered the game ranked ninth in the ACC in total blocks (25) and 10^th in the ACC in blocks per game (1.32).

// STARTERS  
Starters: Jazzy Gipson (#6, F, Fr.), Zahra King (#2, G, So.), Paulina Paris (#23, G, Sr.), Anaya Brown (4, F, Sr.), Grace Hall (#7, F, R-Sr.)