DALLAS — Shania James needed two shots to give SMU some breathing room.
The freshman made back-to-back 3-pointers in the third quarter Wednesday, turning a nine-point lead into a 15-point advantage as the Mustangs beat LIU 69-50 at Moody Coliseum. Theresa Hagans Jr. finished with 20 points and six assists, and SMU improved to 4-0 for the first time since the 2013-14 season.
James supplied 14 points off the bench. Her shooting helped separate the teams in a game that also gave Adia Barnes plenty to correct: SMU committed 26 turnovers against an opponent that finished with 30.
The Mustangs could survive the giveaways because they made LIU pay more often, scoring 34 points off turnovers. They also had James and Hagans, who combined to make eight of 11 attempts from beyond the arc.
LIU had kept the game within reach behind Janessa Williams. She scored three layups in the opening minutes of the third quarter, the last cutting SMU’s lead to 40-32. The Sharks were still close enough that another empty possession or stolen pass could make the Mustangs uncomfortable.
James entered with 6:46 remaining after Mailien Rolf picked up her fourth foul. Zahra King split two free throws, and James followed with a 3 off a Hagans assist at 6:08. On the next SMU scoring possession, King found James for another 3 with 5:31 left.
There was supporting work between those makes. Adja Kane stole the ball from Williams, then had her layup blocked by Leila Nunez. SMU retained possession on a team offensive rebound before James hit the second 3.
Hagans kept the separation when Fabiana Poindujour answered from outside. Grace Ezebilo assisted on a Hagans 3, and Hagans later rebounded King’s missed jumper and made another. SMU’s lead reached 53-35 with 3:21 left in the quarter.
That stretch carried the Mustangs through another succession of mistakes. They did not score again before the fourth quarter, committing five turnovers after Hagans’ final 3 of the period. LIU cut the deficit to 14 by the break and got within 55-42 early in the fourth.
SMU then found points closer to the basket. Hagans put back a James miss. Kaylin Jackson collected an offensive rebound before scoring on a Hagans assist, and Camille Nesmith followed with a layup, also assisted by Hagans. Those three baskets pushed the lead to 61-42.
Nesmith gave Barnes eight points and seven rebounds in 17 minutes. Her five defensive rebounds helped finish LIU possessions. James led a bench that contributed 30 points.
Kane’s work was spread across both ends. She finished with eight rebounds, including four on offense, along with three blocks and three steals. SMU collected 17 offensive rebounds and scored 17 second-chance points, giving itself opportunities to recover from missed shots.
The Sharks created problems of their own. Williams finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds, including five offensive boards. Sydney Huskey added 10 points, and Camille Wiley had six steals. LIU scored 24 points off SMU’s turnovers despite shooting 36% from the field.
The second quarter showed how quickly the Sharks could use those mistakes. Huskey hit two 3s during the period, and Wiley’s steal preceded two free throws that brought LIU within 25-22. SMU had led by eight after the first quarter.
James helped stop that push, too. Her 3 off a Kane assist made it 28-22, Kane followed with a steal and layup, and Izela Arenas hit a jumper off James’ pass with one second remaining to send SMU into halftime ahead 34-26.
James finished 4-for-5 from 3-point range after making six of seven against East Texas A&M on Sunday. Hagans, who scored 30 in that win, went 8-for-13 from the field Wednesday. The two guards have supplied 88 points across the last two games.
Their scoring has given Barnes room to work through the rotation. James started against East Texas A&M but played as a reserve Wednesday, with King in the starting five. James still played 24 minutes and was on the floor for the shooting stretch that put LIU behind by double figures.
SMU closes its opening homestand against Nicholls on Sunday at 6 p.m. Central. The Mustangs will get there unbeaten, with a backcourt making shots and 26 turnovers to address.
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