Southern Methodist’s C-USA home opener pits Mustangs against UTEP

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Friday, January 15, 2010
7:00 p.m. CT
Moody Coliseum – Dallas, Texas
Audio/Live Stats: www.SMUMustangs.com
Radio: 1150 AM (El Paso)

After three straight road games, the Southern Methodist  Mustangs (11-4, 1-1 C-USA) host the University of Texas at El Paso Miners. The Mustangs look to continue a streak (4-0) of winning home openers at Moody Coliseum.

Overall, SMU is 13-5 in conference home openers under head coach Rhonda Rompola, dating back to the 1991-92 season, and are 8-2 in the last 10 years. SMU hosted UTEP twice in conference home openers.

The Mustangs are 17-7 all-time against the Miners and have won six of the last eight meetings. SMU swept UTEP last season, taking the first one on the road 70-64 on Jan. 24, 2009 and winning the regular season finale 78-65 in Dallas on February 28. Brittany Gilliam led the Mustangs with 24 points in the finale, and Jillian Samuels scored 19. Christine Elliott posted a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds. The win gave SMU a one-game advantage over the Miners, making the Mustangs C-USA Regular Season Champions.

UTEP is 10-6 this season, 1-1 in Conference USA. The Mustangs evened their C-USA record at 1-1 with a 64-59 win over Memphis in the FedEx Forum Saturday.

SMU begins Hoop Hour

SMU  will host the first Hoop Hour of the New Year on Wednesday, January 20. The women’s basketball coaches will be available for a question and answer session during the social event, which will take place at the Doubletree Hotel-Campbell Centre at 5:30 p.m.