(Spencer J Eggers/The Daily Campus)

The SMU women’s basketball team fell to Southern Mississippi Sunday in Moody Coliseum with a final score of 74-67.

The ladies fought hard, but in the end, their efforts came up short.

“We played a good team, they’ve won a couple in a row,” Coach Rhonda Rompola said.

The Mustangs came within one point with just over a minute left in the game, but their momentum was strangled by several key plays and forced turnovers by Southern Mississipi’s guard, Niesha Pierce. Pierce had two defensive rebounds, two points and a steal in the final minute alone.

Despite the loss, the Mustangs head to Birmingham, Ala. Thursday night to take on the University of Alabama at Birmingham who are currently in third place in Conference USA with a record of 8-3.

Key players to look out for next game will be junior guard Amber Jones, who has averaged 13.9 points per game this season.

Senior center Meagan Brown has proven herself a force to be reckoned with as she towers above others at 6 feet 5 inches.

She has averaged 6.3 rebounds per game this season.

UAB has an overall record of 17-6 and with players such as Jones and Brown, they will be a difficult team to beat.

Tipoff is set for Thursday at 7 p.m.