The Mustangs will try to solely claim the No.2 spot in Conference USA polls Friday, when they take on the University of Houston (8-4,16-8) at 7 p.m.

Stuck at a tie with the University of Central Florida at 9-3 in conference play and 16-9 overall, if UCF loses tonight against the University of Texas at El Paso and SMU wins, the Mustangs will move into second place.

Houston is currently tied in third place with UTEP. Southern Miss, at 10-2 in conference remains the top team in conference standings.

Coming off a strong win over the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the Mustangs continue to ride what has transpired into a two game win streak. Prior to SMU’s first back-to-back conference losses, the Mustangs were on a six game win streak. UTEP defeated Houston last week, cracking the Cougar’s four-game conference span and longest win streak of the season.

In last season’s meeting between the teams, the Mustangs captured a 74-51 in Houston and won 85-74 in Moody Coliseum.

SMU continues to be led by junior forwards Brittany Gilliam with 14.4 points per game and seven rebounds, followed by Delisha Willa with 11.9 points-per-game. Junior guard Jillian Samuels continues to be a go-to scorer for the Mustangs, as she continues to capitalize on her 50 three pointers this season.

The Mustangs head into tonight’s game as the second, leading scoring offense, with 69.4 points per game. In comparison, Houston averages 67.7 points-per-game. The Cougars do, however, post the highest offensive rebounding percentage with 41.3 boards per game, SMU averages 39.8

SMU wraps up conference play on the road this Saturday at Rice followed by a pair of games at Moody Coliseum starting on Feb. 26 against Tulane followed by UTEP that following Saturday.