After dropping to the No. 3 spot in Conference USA polls in back-to-back losses to Southern Miss and the University of Central Florida, the Mustangs will look to overthrow the University of Memphis Tigers at 7 p.m. in Tennessee.

After their first pair of road losses in conference play, the Mustangs are 14-9 overall and 7-3 in conference, tying them in third place with the University of Houston (15-7, 7-3). Memphis, on the other hand, is just 9-14 and 2-8 this season. “I’m hoping we evoked some character in learning what life on the road really is,” said head coach Rhonda Rompola about the team’s losses. “We didn’t handle it very well.”

Defeating the Tigers in a 93-49 victory in Moody Coliseum last season in SMU’s largest defeat over an opponent since the 80-36 win over San Diego State in 2004. The Tigers have not pulled off a win over the Mustangs since the first meeting between the teams in 1994-95.

“If I’m Memphis, I’m looking at us like ‘hey, they just lost two road games, they are really beatable.’ We have to do something to change their mindset.”

The Tigers host the Mustangs after coming off just their second win in the conference this season after defeating the University of Alabama Birmingham last week.

Tonight’s game will feature the second leading scorer in Conference USA, Pairs Leonard, who has averaged 17.1 points per game. SMU’s junior forward Brittany Gilliam is ranked seventh in the conference with 14.3 points per game, and first in rankings with 59 steals on the season.

“[Leonard is] a player that can get off her shots at any point. She’s at least 50 percent of their offense in shooting the ball,” said Rompola.

Putting Gilliam on Leonard, Rompola said SMU will have to contain Leonard “or she’s going to get off a shot every third time down the floor.”

SMU will return to Moody Coliseum on Sunday to host the UAB Blazers (9-14,4-6) at 2 p.m.

“I think we can beat any team in the conference and win any game in the conference, we just have to bring our a game every night,” said Rompola.