By Staff
ECU Sports Information
DALLAS, Texas — The East Carolina women's basketball fell victim to a streaking SMU team, falling 73-59 Saturday at Moody Coliseum. The Lady Pirates are now 15-4 overall and 4-2 in league play while the Mustangs improve to 14-4 overall and 4-1 in conference action.
SMU pushed out to a 10-2 lead, when Alice Severin completed a three-point play with 15:38 left in the half. Crystal Wilson would bring the Lady Pirates to within 12-11, hitting a mid-range jumper from the key, but the Mustangs scored four-straight points as the game broke at the 11:07 mark.
East Carolina pullled within two again, but a Samantha Mahnesmith trey gave SMU a nine-point lead with 6:24 left in the period. The Mustangs took their largest lead of the game, 33-22,  when Brittany Gilliam knocked Allison Spivey over and grabbed a loose ball for a putback. With just five seconds left, Chareya Smith dropped in a layup to leave to score at 38-28 at the break.
Wilson led all Lady Pirate scorers with nine while Spivey netted seven. Additionally, Ashley Clarke and Chareya Smith pulled down three rebounds.
SMU had the shooting edge, .517-.458 as well as the advantage in rebounding 17-13 and assists 11-5.
The Mustangs blizted East Carolina out of the locker room, pushing out to an 18-point lead. The Lady Pirates sliced the deficit to 14 with four-straight points then drew within 12 (53-41) at the 11:53 mark. SMU kept its 12-point cushion as the clock ticked under eight minutes as a Haley Day jumper made the score 58-46.
ECU pulled within six on a Spivey trey, but it was as close as it would get, as Brittany Gilliam nailed a trey of her own to push the lead back to nine and effectively seal the game.
Spivey led the offense with 15 points in the contest while Gay added 12. Clarke was the top rebounder, as she pulled down seven.
The Mustangs had the edge from the field .458-.438 while also enjoying a 35-30 margin on the glass, including 14 offensive rebounds. SMU also had the advantage in assists 18-10 while the Lady Pirates turned the ball over 23 times, leading to 31 Mustangs points.
ECU returns home Thursday as UAB invades Minges Coliseum. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m.