SMU built a commanding lead, but Miami’s second-half surge and rebounding dominance stole the ACC victory in a nail-biting finish.
The SMU women’s basketball team delivered one of its most energetic starts of the season Sunday afternoon, but a strong second-half push from Miami spoiled the effort as the Mustangs fell 75-66 inside Moody Coliseum in Dallas.
For nearly two quarters, SMU looked firmly in control, racing out to a 17–2 advantage behind hot perimeter shooting and relentless defensive pressure, forcing turnovers and knocking down early three-pointers with confidence.
The Mustangs finished the first half shooting 51 percent from the floor and 8-of-14 from beyond the arc, building a 13-point cushion at the break.
That offensive balance was fueled by Zahra King, Anaya Brown, and Sahnya Jah, who each reached double figures before halftime.
King’s command of the offense stood out all afternoon, as she combined scoring with playmaking to keep Miami scrambling in transition.
Momentum shifted sharply after the break. Miami responded with urgency, tightening defensively and dominating the glass to claw back into the game.
The Hurricanes erased SMU’s lead with a 19-10 third quarter, turning second-chance opportunities into points and limiting the Mustangs in the period.
By the start of the fourth quarter, what once looked comfortable had turned into a one-possession contest.
The final minutes were a grind. SMU briefly reclaimed momentum with a clutch three-pointer from Grace Hall that tied the game late, but Miami answered on the other end and never relinquished control again.
Missed box-outs and extra possessions proved costly, as the Hurricanes converted rebounds and trips to the free-throw line into separation down the stretch.
Despite the loss, SMU posted several encouraging individual performances.
King led all Mustangs with 18 points while adding a career-high eight assists and two steals, continuing to rank among the ACC’s most efficient guards.
Brown contributed 15 points on perfect shooting from deep and pulled down a team-high nine rebounds, while Jah matched her with 15 points and consistent trips to the foul line.
Hall added 12 points and four blocks, anchoring the interior defense, and Jazzy Gipson recorded a career-best five steals.
Defensively, SMU forced 18 turnovers and finished with 12 steals, marking the 14th time this season the Mustangs have reached double-digit steals - their highest total since 2012-13.
That defensive identity remains one of the program’s clearest strengths under first-year head coach Adia Barnes.
For the Hurricanes, rebounding and late-game execution made the difference, as they outscored SMU 41-19 in the second half to secure the road win.
As the Mustangs prepare for another ACC road test, the challenge will be sustaining energy for all 40 minutes.
The formula is there - ball movement, shooting balance, and defensive disruption - but turning strong starts into complete performances remains the next step in SMU’s growth this season.