The SMU women’s basketball team won its third consecutive conference game with a 74-51 victory over the University of Houston Cougars. The win marked the Mustangs’ second consecutive win on the road for the weekend, as well as an end to Houston’s eight-game winning streak.
SMU improved to 17-6 in the season (7-3 in Conference USA), and currently holds the No. 3 spot in conference standings. The wins also marked SMU’s second sweep of a two-game road series during conference play in the last 33 seasons.
Houston fell to 14-10 overall, 8-2 in C-USA, but is still one win ahead of the Mustangs in conference rankings.
Senior post Janielle Dodds and sophomore forward Brittany Gilliam tied the team and game-high score with 17 points. Senior guard Katy Cobb contributed with 10 points, and senior forward Sharee Shepherd had a game-high 13 rebounds and five steals to mark her eighth game of the season with at least five steals.
The Mustangs gained an early lead over the Cougars, holding their opponent to only 20 points in the first half. SMU held the Cougars to a seven-minute scoreless streak and took off on a 15-point run to put them up at the end of the half.
Hitting only nine of their 37 field goals and only one of their 11 three pointers, the Mustangs posted low percentages in the first half but still managed to come out on top, up 43-20 at the half.
SMU gained a season-high 30- point lead over Houston with 17:55 left in the game, and improved to 30.3 percent in field goals, 37.5 percent in threes and 61.5 percent in free throws in the second half.
The Mustangs bench contributed 24 points, with Cobb sinking four out of four free throws. Sophomore post Alice Severin assisted with six rebounds and three points, and sophomore post Catherine Campbell came in with one block and one assist at the end to help put SMU on top.
Heading into Thursday night’s game against Memphis, the Mustangs now have 11 games over .500 for the first time since winning 12 of 13 games during the 2004-05 season.
The Mustangs will return to Moody Coliseum on Thursday night to host (7-16, 4-6) Memphis at 7.
