Grace Ezebilo gave SMU control of the boards, and the Mustangs found their finishing touch just in time Thursday, Nov. 5. Her 18 points and 19 rebounds helped secure a 66–54 women’s basketball victory over Hampton at Moody Coliseum in Dallas.
SMU improved to 2–0, but the final margin concealed a much closer game entering the fourth quarter. Hampton won the third period 20–11, cutting a 34–24 halftime deficit to 45–44. The Mustangs responded with a 21–10 final quarter.
The rebound advantage mattered
The official game statistics show SMU ahead 54–40 in rebounds and 18–10 in assists. Ezebilo supplied more than one-third of the Mustangs’ rebounds, while Theresa Hagans Jr. contributed seven assists.
SMU’s recap credits the team with 23 offensive rebounds and 19 second-chance points. That extra work offset an uneven shooting afternoon: the Mustangs made 37.5 percent of their field-goal attempts and six of 22 three-point tries. Hampton shot 28.1 percent from the floor but made all 15 of its free throws.
