In the Mustang’s fourth Conference USA win of the season, sophomore guard Haley Day posted her first career and season double double in a 59-56 victory of Tulane, Thursday night in New Orleans.
With the win, SMU improved to 11-7 overall and 4-1 in C-USA. The Green Wave was handed their second straight conference loss of the season following a loss on Sunday to the University of Texas El Paso.
Up 27-23 at the half, SMU took a dominant lead just five minutes in to give them the only advantage they would need to come out on top. Shooting 11-27 from the field, the Mustangs nearly double the Green Wave in their scoring efforts, as Tulane managed to make just nine of their 39 attempted field goals.
Struggling on defense in the first half, the Mustangs pulled down nine rebounds, but surrendered ten points to Tulane, who had six turnovers in the first half. Junior guard Brittany Gilliam led SMU in the first half, draining nine points and recording six rebounds.
The Green Wave pulled within one point of the Mustangs with six minutes left, bringing the score to 49-48 courtesy of a field goal by Tulane’s Roshaunda Barnes. Managing to hold Tulane at 48 points, SMU managed to hold on to their lead as they continued to pull ahead in the final minutes.
Tulane managed to rally again in the final one minute seconds, when a successful free throw put the Green Wave within three points of the Mustangs. Tulane shot a three-pointer with 34 seconds left to try and tie the game, but failed to connect the shot.
Wills hit a free throw with eight seconds remaining, but Tulane immediately answered back with a fastbreak layup to come within to points for the final score.
Gilliam led the team with 15 points on the night followed by teammate Day with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Junior guard Delisha Willa contributed 13 points to SMU’s effort.
The Mustangs closed out the game shooting 42 percent in field goals, 40 percent in three-pointers and 56 percent from the line.
Tulane struggled against SMU, managing to sink just 21 of their 72 field goals and five of their 23 three’s. Fairing slightly better from the line, the Green Wave shot 70 percent in free throws.
With one road game remaining as part of SMU’s three-game C-USA traveling streak, the Mustangs will head to El Paso on Saturday to take on 10-7 and 3-1 UTEP.
The Mustangs will host the University of Houston in Moody Coliseum on Jan.29 at 7 p.m.
