STANFORD, Calif. (SMU) – Ayanna Thompson led the SMU women's basketball program, scoring a career-high 18 points as the Mustangs fell 87-57 on the road to Stanford.

After digging themselves into a hole in the first quarter, SMU (9-20, 2-15 ACC) tried its hardest to claw back into the game, including scoring 23 points in the second quarter, but was unable to slow down the Stanford (18-12, 7-10 ACC) offense down the stretch.

The Mustangs shot 38% from the floor and recorded 42 points in the paint, their most in an ACC game this season, and SMU's 10^th game scoring 30 or more points in the paint, but SMU's 19 turnovers and a cold shooting night from three-point range proved to be the difference in the game.

Stanford scored 50 points in the paint and 28 points off turnovers while shooting 54% from the field, allowing the Cardinal to take control early and hold on to the lead.

Thompson scored her career high 18 points, shooting 7-of-17 from the floor and 3-of-6 from three-point range. It was Thompson's sixth game scoring in double figures this season and her fifth game this season making three or more three-point field goals.

Sahnya Jah finished with 12 points, shooting 6-of-11 from the floor and led the team in rebounds with six. Miriam Ibezim ended her night with nine points and five rebounds.

Stanford opened the game on a 10-0 run. Thompson and Ibezim scored on back-to-back possessions, but Stanford closed the first quarter on a 21-4 run and led 31-6 at the end of the period.

The Mustangs scored four straight points to start the second. Jah looked to kick-start the Mustangs' offense, scoring with six points early in the period. After a slow start, SMU responded by scoring 23 points in the second quarter and cut the lead back down to 21 at the half. Jah had eight points while Thompson had seven at the break.

The Cardinal began the third quarter on a 5-0 run before Thompson used a reverse layup to answer for the Mustangs.  Both teams continued to trade baskets, with Jah and Thompson leading the charge on offense for SMU. Despite SMU's best effort, Stanford closed the quarter on a 9-0 run and led by 29 heading to the fourth as the Cardinal held on in the fourth to claim the victory.

// UP NEXT
The Mustangs will conclude their west coast road trip and play their final game of the regular season against Cal on Sunday, March 1, at 4 pm CT and ACCNX inside Haas Pavilion.
// OTHER NOTES  

• in her first season at SMU, head coach Adia Barnes is now 9-20 and 178-134 overall in her career (10^th season).  

 
// STEALS / TURNOVERS 

• SMU ended the game with 5 steals.   
  • SMU entered the game ranked 3^rd in the ACC / 54^th in the NCAA in steals per game (10.3) 
  • SMU has now totaled 292 steals this season.  
    • Entered the game 3^rd in the ACC in total steals.  
    • Most steals in a single season since the 2012-13 season (327).
• SMU forced 12 turnovers 
  • SMU has now forced 489 turnovers this season  
    • Entered the game 6^th in the ACC in turnovers forced per game (17.0) and in 6^th in total turnovers forced.  

// BLOCKS  

• SMU had 3 blocks  
  • Entered the game 6^th in the ACC / 39^th in the NCAA in blocks per game (4.4) 
• SMU has now totaled 127 blocks this season, the most since the 2017-18 season (148)
  • Anaya Brown had 1 block
    • Brown entered the game ranked 9^th in the ACC in total blocks (40) and 10^th in the ACC in blocks per game (1.43).    
  • Grace Hall had 2 blocks
    • Hall entered the game ranked 10^th in the ACC in total blocks (36) and 9^th in the ACC in blocks per game (1.44).  
• Brown and Hall are the only pair of teammates in the ACC this season to rank inside the top 10 in the conference in total blocks this season.

 
// FIELD GOAL PERCENT  

• SMU shot 38.5% from the field   
• Zahra King entered the game third among ACC guards in field goal percent (44.9%) and 10^th in the ACC overall.  
  • King also entered the game 9^th in the ACC in total points (420), 10^th in points per game (15.0), and 7^th in total field goals made (155).

// 3-POINTERS  

• SMU made 3  three-pointers
  • SMU entered the game 9^th in the ACC in three-point percentage (32.2%)
• SMU has made 179 three-pointers this season, the third most in a single season in program history. The most in a single season since the 2009-10 season (186).  

// FREE THROWS  

• SMU was 4-6 from the line  
  • Mustangs entered the game ranked 9^th in the ACC in free throw attempts per game (17.3) and 12^th in the ACC in free throws made per game (11.6).