DALLAS (SMU) – The SMU women's basketball program held off a second-half comeback from Pitt to secure a 79-78 victory inside Moody Coliseum on Sunday.

SMU (9-17, 2-12 ACC) found itself in a closely contested game in the fourth quarter after Pitt (8-19, 1-13 ACC) eased a double-digit halftime lead. The Panthers opened the fourth quarter with a 13-0 run to cut their deficit to three points with about six minutes to play. The Mustangs went on a 5-0 run, highlighted by a Zahra King and-1, to push their lead back out to six. SMU and Pittsburgh continued to trade buckets down the stretch, but ultimately, an Ayanna Thompson three-pointer and clutch free throws from King propelled the Mustangs to a victory. 

SMU was lights out from three-point range for the second time this season against the Panthers as the Mustangs made 11 three-pointers, which is tied for the most they have made in a game this season. Thompson led the team, knocking down a career high five three-pointers and shot 71.4% from beyond the arc. As a team, SMU shot 43.1% from the field, knocking down 28 shots on 18 assists.  

The Mustangs forced Pittsburgh to turnover the ball over 14 times and capitalized on them, scoring 19 points. SMU also had 10 steals today and tied a season high with eight blocks as by Anaya Brown tied her season high with four. SMU has now recorded 17 games this season with double-digit steals, the most since the 2012-13 season.

After scoring 40 points against Pitt back in January, Zahra King once again led the charge on offense, scoring 25 points, her fifth 20-point game this season. King was 8-of-17 from the field and had five rebounds and three assists.

The Mustangs had four players in double figures, with Ayanna Thompson scoring15 points, making a career-high five three-pointers. Thompson also had a good day, facilitating and finishing the game with a career-high six assists.  King and Thompson scored a combined 40 points in the game.

Sahnya Jah and Miriam Ibezim were also in double figures, scoring 15 and 10. They also contributed significantly on the boards, with Jah leading the team with nine rebounds and Ibezim with six. 

SMU opened the game on an 8-2 run, highlighted by a Jah three-pointer to jump out to the early lead. Back-to-back threes from Thompson pushed the Mustangs' lead to double digits with four minutes to go in the period. After trading baskets, King hit another three-pointer to increase the lead to 13 late in the period. SMU was 4-of-6 from downtown in the quarter and forced seven turnovers.

After both teams traded buckets to start the second, SMU went on a 6-0 run. Pitt answered with a 10-0 run.  After making three three-pointers in a row, King finished a lay-up on an 11-0 run to close out the quarter and put SMU up 20 heading into the half.

Both teams traded baskets to open the second half. Jah knocked down a three-pointer to get the offense going for the Mustangs in the third quarter. Six different Mustangs scored this quarter. Pittsburgh's offense came alive towards the end of the third and proceeded to go on an 11-0 run. Thompson and King responded with buckets of their own to keep SMU in front by 13 heading into the fourth quarter.  

// UP NEXT
The Mustangs will be back inside Moody Coliseum Thursday, Feb. 18, to host Boston College at 6:30 p.m. CT. The game will air on ACCNX and is the second of a three-game homestand for the Mustangs.

// OTHER NOTES  

• In her first season at SMU, head coach Adia Barnes is now 9-17 and 178-131 overall in her career (10^th season).  

// STEALS / TURNOVERS 

• SMU ended the game with 10 steals.   

• SMU entered the game ranked 3^rd in the ACC / 45^th in the NCAA in steals per game (10.6) 

• SMU has now totaled 275 steals this season.  

• Entered the game 3^rd in the ACC in total steals.  

• SMU forced 14 turnovers 

• SMU has now forced 456 turnovers this season  

• Entered the game 6^th in the ACC in turnovers forced per game (17.6) and in 7^th in total turnovers forced.  

 
// FIELD GOAL PERCENT  

• SMU shot 43.1% from the field  
  • SMU has shot over 40% in 12 games this season    
  • Zahra King was 8-17 from the floor in the game  
• King entered the game second among ACC guards in field goal percent (44.8%) and 11^th in the ACC overall.  
• King also entered the game 12^th in the ACC in total points (363), and 13^th in points per game (14.8) 

 
// FREE THROWS  

• SMU was 12-21 from the line 
  • Mustangs entered the game ranked 8^th in the ACC in free throw attempts per game (17.6) and 10^th in the ACC in free throws made per game (12.1).  

// BLOCKS  

• SMU had 8 blocks  
  • Entered the game 6^th in the ACC / 42^nd in the NCAA in blocks per game (4.4)  

• Anaya Brown had 4 blocks  
  • Brown entered the game ranked 10^th in the ACC in total blocks (34) and 11^th in the ACC in blocks per game (1.36).