Tulsa Women's Hoops Fall to Mustangs, 67-56

NewsOn6.com

DALLAS, Texas - Chanel Johnson had a team-leading 13 points and Larrissa Williams added 10, but it wasn't enough as Tulsa dropped a 67-56 decision to SMU on Saturday afternoon at Moody Coliseum in Dallas, Texas. Tulsa fell to 4-8 on the season and 0-1 in Conference USA, while SMU moved to 8-6 overall and 1-0 in the league.

Johnson posted her fifth career double-double and her first of the season with her 13 points and 11 rebounds in the contest, while Williams' 10 points and 11 rebounds was good for her 21st career double-double. Kara Vaughan scored nine for the Golden Hurricane, while Antoinette Brown added eight.

It was a tight battle in the first half, as the score was tied five times and the lead changed three times in the first 20 minutes. Vaughan put TU on the board with just 13 seconds ticked off the clock, but the Mustangs quickly tied the game with a layup by Christine Elliott and a three-pointer by Haley Day gave them a 5-3 lead.

SMU held onto the lead until Johnson tied the contest 15-15 with a free throw. The game remained close, tying four more times, before the Mustangs went on a 7-2 run to close out the half with a 32-27 advantage.

The Mustangs climbed to an 18-point lead with 13:49 left to play, but TU battled back, holding SMU scoreless for nearly five minutes off the clock and went on a 13 point run to pull within five at the 9:16 mark, but the Mustangs held on for the win.

TU out-rebounded the Mustangs, 41-38, and had six blocks, but had 22 turnovers in the contest.

SMU was led by Jillian Samuels with 17 points, while Christine Elliott, Haley Day and Brittany Gilliam post double-digit points as well with 14, 13 and 11, respectively. Gilliam pulled down a team-best nine rebounds, and had six assists and three steals in the game.

TU will return to action on Monday, January 5th taking on Texas-San Antonio beginning at 6:00 p.m. at the UTSA Convocation Center in San Antonio, Texas.