Can SMU's surging Mustangs, led by a 40-point star, shock No. 21 UNC and make program history on the road?
SMU women’s basketball heads back on the road Thursday with a chance to make program history, traveling to Chapel Hill to face No. 21 North Carolina inside Carmichael Arena.
Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. CT, and while the standings say this matchup is uphill, the Mustangs arrive with renewed confidence.
SMU snapped its ACC drought last week with an 83-76 road win at Pitt, powered by a career night from Zahra King. The Brooklyn native poured in 40 points, drilling seven 3-pointers to become just the third player in program history to reach the 40-point mark.
Anaya Brown added 20 points in the breakthrough victory, giving the Mustangs a glimpse of what this group can be when healthy and clicking.
King has been the leader all season. She leads SMU with 348 total points and is averaging 14.5 points per game, including 16.3 per contest in ACC play. Her efficiency stands out, as she’s shooting 45.7 percent from the floor, one of the top marks among conference guards.
Brown has been equally impactful, averaging 9.7 points and 6.5 rebounds in league action and narrowly missing multiple double-doubles over the past two weeks.
Injuries have limited SMU to as few as seven available players in recent games, forcing heavy minutes for King, Brown, Ayanna Thomoson, and Grace Hall. Despite that, the Mustangs have found ways to compete, especially on defense.
SMU ranks among the ACC leaders in steals at 10.5 per game and continues to disrupt opponents with active hands and rim protection.
North Carolina enters riding a seven-game winning streak and owns a 10-2 home record, making the task daunting.
Still, an upset would be monumental, marking SMU’s first win over a ranked opponent since 2016 and its highest-ranked victory in more than two decades.
For a young program in a new league, Thursday represents more than a game. It’s a chance to announce progress, belief, and fight.