DALLAS – Moving Shania James into the starting lineup gave SMU 24 points and seven assists against East Texas A&M. It also left Adia Barnes with a substitution stretch in which she had no point guard on the floor.
Barnes took responsibility for those substitutions after Sunday’s 78-65 win. Wednesday’s home game against LIU gives her another chance to examine how James and Theresa Hagans Jr. share the ballhandling.
The Mustangs are 3-0 entering the 6 p.m. game at Moody Coliseum on ACC Network Extra. LIU is 0-3, with 84 turnovers through three games.
James started Sunday while Zahra King rested. Barnes said King was banged up and could have played, but she chose to hold her out. That was Sunday’s explanation; her status for the LIU game remained unconfirmed in the pregame reporting.
James and Hagans combined for 54 points against East Texas A&M, making 11 of 15 threes. Their shooting helped SMU recover from a 39-34 halftime deficit and win by 13. The Mustangs scored 24 points in the fourth quarter after managing only 11 in the second.
Barnes’ concerns extended to defense. She said East Texas A&M had isolated defenders and driven downhill, requiring changes in the space SMU gave the ballhandler.
LIU’s early turnovers present a chance for the Mustangs’ defense to create offense. SMU has 40 steals through three games, alongside 48 turnovers of its own. Barnes will be able to examine both the pressure and the decisions that follow it against a team averaging 28 giveaways.
The Sharks have two scorers SMU cannot dismiss because of the team’s winless start. Leila Nuñez leads LIU at 14.7 points per game and has made 11 of 23 threes. Janessa Williams averages 14.3 points and seven rebounds. Together, they account for most of a team average of 48.3 points.
Grace Ezebilo brings SMU a considerable rebounding advantage in the early totals. She has 38 rebounds, including 16 on offense, through three games. LIU has been outrebounded by 12.7 per game.
Ezebilo had 18 points and 19 rebounds against Hampton, then 10 boards against East Texas A&M while James and Hagans handled most of the scoring. Hagans said Sunday that she trusts Ezebilo to collect the miss and make the outlet, allowing her to move up the floor.
James has 13 assists against seven turnovers through three games; Hagans has eight assists and seven turnovers. Barnes’ task against LIU is to keep a ballhandler available when either guard rests.
Photo: SMU Athletics. SMU vs. East Texas A&M, Nov. 8, 2026.
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