DALLAS (SMU) –  The SMU women's basketball fought to the very end in a back-and-forth game but fell 70-65 to Wake Forest on Thursday inside Moody Coliseum.

SMU (8-15, 1-10 ACC) led by five heading into the fourth quarter, but could not hold off Wake Forest (13-11, 2-10 ACC), who shot 62% and scored 25 points in the fourth quarter, to come back and claim the victory.

Wake Forest began the fourth on an 8-0 run and led by three with 7:22 left in the game. After trading baskets, the Demon Deacons used a 7-0 run to push the lead to six with just over three minutes remaining. Having a career performance, Thompson answered for SMU, scoring five points in two minutes, which included draining a three-pointer to cut the Wake lead to one with 1:45 to go. In the final minutes, SMU had opportunities to tie the game but failed to capitalize. Down three with 30 seconds left, the Mustangs missed two foul shots and allowed Wake Forest to ice the game at the other end.

SMU had an efficient night shooting the ball, making 42.6% of their shots.  It was the Mustangs 11th game this season shooting over 40% from the field. SMU went 7-of-17 from downtown and 10-of-15 from the line, but it was not enough as Wake Forest shot 49% from the floor in the game and was 14-of-22 from the line and 6-of-15 from three-point range. SMU held the advantage on points scored off turnovers, 15-11, but the Demon Deacons outscored SMU 32-28 in the paint.

Ayanna Thompson scored a career high 17 points, going 3-of-4 from three-point range and 6-of-8 from the field, altogether. Thompson also had three steals and three assists in the game.

Zahra King recorded her 16th double-digit scoring performance of the season, ending the night with 15 points, shooting 5-of-10 from the floor.

Paulina Paris added 10 points and knocked down two three-pointers, while Anaya Brown hauled in 11 rebounds and added eight points.

Both teams started slow, but SMU held a four-point lead four minutes into the game after a Hall three. SMU pushed its lead to six after a King bucket. Wake Forest answered, and after trading buckets to close the quarter, the Demon Deacons led by one at the end of the period.

The lead changed hands multiple times at the start of the second. SMU pushed its lead back to seven after seven straight points from Thompson, a 7-0 late in the quarter.  Wake ended the quarter on a 7-0 run, with the score an even 30-30 at halftime.

Thompson had 10 points at the half while King had eight. The Mustangs shot 50% from the floor in the half and looked to swing momentum back in their favor.

SMU came out of the half poised to take control of the game and went on a 9-0 run halfway through the quarter, highlighted by a Paulina three. Mustangs led by seven before Wake answered. A Thompson three pushed the lead to seven with one left in the quarter. SMU led by five heading into the fourth.

// UP NEXT
The Mustangs will head back out on the road this weekend, traveling to Durham, North Carolina, on Sunday, February 8, to face No. 17/22 Duke inside Cameron Indoor Stadium.
// OTHER NOTES

• In her first season at SMU, head coach Adia Barnes is now 8-15 and 177-129 overall in her career (10^th season).

// STEALS / TURNOVERS

• SMU ended the game with 6 steals. 
  • SMU entered the game ranked 3^rd in the ACC / 44^th in the NCAA in steals per game (10.7)
  • SMU has now totaled 242 steals this season.
    • Entered the game 3^rd in the ACC in total steals.
• SMU forced 18 turnovers
  • SMU has now forced 405 turnovers this season
    • Entered the game 4^th in the ACC in turnovers forced per game (17.8) and in 6^th in total turnovers forced.

// FIELD GOAL PERCENT

• SMU shot 46.2% from the field 
  • 11^th time this season shooting over 40% in the game.
  • Zahra King was 5-10 from the floor in the game
    • King entered the game second among ACC guards in field goal percent (47.7%) and 9^th in the ACC overall.
    • King also entered the game 10^th in the ACC in total field goals made (122), 8^th in total points (327), and 10^th in points per game (14.9)

// FREE THROWS

• SMU was 10-15 from the line
  • Mustangs entered the game ranked 8^th in the ACC in free throw attempts per game (17.8) and 9^th in the ACC in free throws made per game (12.3).

// BENCH POINTS

• SMU had 6 bench points
  • Entered the game 8^th in the ACC in bench points per game (20.9).

// BLOCKS

• SMU had 3 blocks
  • Entered the game 6^th in the ACC / 38^th in the NCAA in blocks per game (4.6)
  • Brown entered the game ranked 8^th in the ACC in total blocks (32) and 9^th in the ACC in blocks per game (1.45).

// STARTERS  
Starters: Paulina Paris (#23, G, Sr.), Zahra King (#2, G, So.), Ayanna Thompson (#1, G, Sr.), Anaya Brown (4, F, Sr.), Grace Hall (#6, F, R-Sr.)