The SMU Mustangs fight breast cancer and seek ACC victory as dynamic Zahra King leads the charge against struggling Boston College.
DALLAS - SMU women’s basketball returns to Moody Coliseum on Thursday night looking to build momentum in ACC play as the Mustangs host Boston College at 6:30 p.m. CT on David B. Miller Court. The matchup also marks SMU’s annual Play4Kay game, with the team wearing pink uniforms to raise awareness in the fight against breast cancer.
The Mustangs (9-17, 2-12 ACC) are coming off a thrilling 79-78 win over Pitt, their second victory over the Panthers this season.
Zahra King once again proved why she has become the focal point of SMU’s offense, pouring in 25 points for her fifth 20-point performance of the year. The Brooklyn native has been electric in conference play, averaging 16.8 points per game against ACC opponents.
King’s season has been historic. Earlier this year, she erupted for 40 points against Pitt, becoming just the third player in program history to reach that mark. She ranks among the ACC leaders in scoring with 388 total points and is shooting an efficient 45 percent from the field, one of the best clips among conference guards.
Anaya Brown continues to anchor the interior, ranking seventh in the ACC with 38 total blocks and averaging 6.5 rebounds per game in league play.
Brown recently delivered back-to-back 20-point outings and tied her season high with four blocks in the win over Pitt. Grace Hall has also been a force defensively, contributing 31 blocks this season.
Despite battling injuries and often playing with a short rotation, head coach Adia Barnes has leaned on a core group that includes Ayanna Thompson and Kyla Deck.
Thompson drilled a career-high five 3-pointers in the last outing and added six assists, while Deck ranks among the ACC’s top players in total steals with 49 on the year.
SMU’s defensive identity has been clear all season. The Mustangs average 10.6 steals per game, third-best in the ACC, and force nearly 18 turnovers per contest. Offensively, they’ve shown balance with 158 made 3-pointers and nine games of 30-plus points in the paint.
Boston College (4-24, 0-15 ACC) enters searching for its first conference win and has dropped 20 straight games overall.
With a home crowd behind them and postseason pride on the line, SMU looks to defend Moody Coliseum and continue building toward a strong finish in ACC women’s basketball play.