CHAMP CENTRAL
BOX SCORE
NOTES
QUOTES
PHOTO GALLERY
HIGHLIGHTS
UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Forward Alicia Froling had team highs of 17 points and 12 rebounds as SMU rallied from a double-digit fourth-quarter deficit to take an 83-74 overtime win against UCF in the first round of the American Athletic Conference Championship Friday night at Mohegan Sun Arena.
The Mustangs (13-17) used two 8-0 runs in the final eight minutes to advance to play No. 2-seeded USF in the quarterfinal round on Saturday at 6 p.m. ET (ESPN3). Friday’s game was the first overtime contest in the three-year history of the American Athletic Conference Championship.
Guard McKenzie Adams scored 13 of her 14 points after halftime as SMU erased a 13-point deficit in the final eight minutes of regulation. She scored six straight SMU points to ignite an 8-0 run that brought the Mustangs within five, 59-54, with 6:16 left. UCF’s Zykira Lewis hit a 3-pointer to give the Knights a 10-point lead, 66-56, with 4:40 left, but another 8-0 SMU run made it a one-possession game with 1:06 to play.
The Mustangs forced overtime when Gabrielle Wilkins found Dai’Ja Thomas for a wide-open layup with two seconds left, making it 68-68 after regulation.
SMU never trailed in the extra period as Morgan Bolton knocked down a 3-pointer to break the tie and Thomas scored from inside to give the Mustangs a quick five-point cushion.
Bolton finished with 13 points, while Stephanie Collins had 12 and Wilkins had 10 to join Froling and Adams in double figures for the Mustangs.
Alliyah Gregory led all scorers with 22 points for UCF, which ends its season at 7-23.