CANYON, Texas – West Texas A&M Lady Buff Basketball put on an impressive performance during their first exhibition contest of the season on Tuesday night as they fell to the SMU Mustangs, 81-69 at Moody Coliseum in Dallas, Texas.
 
West Texas A&M began the first quarter by trading early baskets with SMU, with Randi Harding contributing a jumper to put points on the board. The visitors faced an early challenge as SMU capitalized on turnovers to establish an 8-0 lead. However, the Lady Buffs responded with a scoring surge, highlighted by Henley West's jumper and a three-pointer from Claire Graham, tying the game at 11.
 
Despite the momentum shift, SMU regained a slim advantage with successful free throws and a layup in the closing minutes. Harding kept the Lady Buffs within striking distance, adding another jumper, but the quarter ended with a narrow 16-13 deficit for the visiting team.
 
The Lady Buffs began the second quarter with an early lead, highlighted by Karley Motschenbacher's layup assisted by Harding at the 9:29 mark. Graham's jumper at 8:11 extended their advantage to 19-16. However, SMU responded with a scoring run that included a 3-pointer from Tyi Skinner and a fast-break layup by Paulina Paris, shifting momentum in their favor.
 
Midway through the quarter, SMU's defensive pressure led to turnovers, allowing them to capitalize with quick points and extend their lead. Chloe Callahan provided a spark for the Lady Buffs, scoring a three-pointer and a layup to reduce the deficit to 35-24. Despite Callahan's efforts, SMU closed the quarter strong with a late three-pointer by Ayanna Thompson, ending the quarter with a 41-26 lead over the Lady Buffs.
 
The Lady Buffs began the third quarter with a defensive block by Kenadee Winfrey at 9:36, followed by a layup from Taylor Haggan. A 3-pointer by Kyla Kane at 8:38 brought the score to 31-43, narrowing the gap. However, turnovers hampered the Lady Buffs' momentum as SMU capitalized with fast-break points.
 
Despite continued efforts from the Buffs, including a jumper from West, SMU extended their lead with effective transitions. A late layup by Winfrey reduced the deficit slightly, but the quarter ended with SMU ahead, 61-41.
 
The Lady Buffs made notable strides in the fourth quarter, starting with Hollie Stalder's layup following a steal at the 8:55 mark. The team continued to chip away at the deficit with Graham's contributions, including a jumper and a 3-pointer, narrowing the gap to 16 points by 6:57. An impactful run saw Kane hit a fast-break 3-pointer, assisted by Motschenbacher, reducing SMU's lead further.
 
As the quarter progressed, the Lady Buffs maintained pressure with Harding converting a layup and a free throw, bringing the score within 10 points at 5:31. Graham's 3-pointer at 4:58 continued to cut into the lead. Despite their efforts, including free throws from Abbi Holder, the gap proved challenging to overcome.
 
The quarter concluded with the Lady Buffs' persistent offense, highlighted by West's layup at 1:28, but SMU responded with steady scoring to secure the final score at 81-69. The Lady Buffs outscored SMU 28-20 in the final quarter but ultimately finished behind on the scoreboard.
 
Graham led the offensive charge with 17 points, converting six of eight field goals and making all four of her three-point attempts. West contributed efficiently with 16 points, hitting eight of her ten shots from the floor. Motschenbacher filled the stat sheet with six points, eight rebounds, seven assists, and two steals. Kane made her presence felt defensively with two blocks, while also adding six points and three rebounds.
 
The Lady Buffs continue their exhibition schedule on Thursday night as they travel to Tucson, Arizona to take on the Wildcats of the University of Arizona with tipoff set for 8:00 p.m. CT at the historic McKale Center.