BERKELEY, CAL. – SMU defeated Gardner-Webb 83-71 on Saturday afternoon on the day one of two at the Raising the B.A.R. Invitational hosted by the University of California at Berkley.
 
The Mustangs took an early lead by scoring the first three buckets of the game in the first minute and taking as much as an eight-point lead during the quarter. After the first 10, SMU led 20-14 but saw GWU cut their lead to 34-31 heading into the halftime break. Cain finished the opening half with 15 points after going a perfect 3-3 from deep and 6 of 7 from the floor.
 
Gardner-Webb opened the scoring for the teams coming out of the break to cut their deficit to one on a Layken Cox layup, but the 'Dogs were unable to get another to fall until the 5:47 mark. During the scoring drought, SMU took advantage going on a 12-0 spurt to put themselves ahead by 46-33.
 
The Mustangs stretched their lead to as many as 23 as the Runnin' Bulldogs tried to close the gap. GWU kept their energy up, as they forced nine turnovers and had eight offensive boards in the second half.
 
Cain led the team in scoring finishing the game with 19 and dished a team-high five assists. Jhessyka Williams was next for GWU ending the day with a double-double after tallying 14 and pulling in 11 rebounds. L'Mia Littlejohn also had double figures ending the day with 11.
 
Gardner-Webb finished the game hitting on 12 of 29 shots from deep. Cain and Littlejohn had three apiece while Micahla Funderburk, Lauren Bevis, and Emma Capps each connected on two.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs will play Arkansas Pine Bluff at 2:00 p.m. EST tomorrow to finish out their time in the Raising the B.A.R. Invitational. Arkansas Pine Bluff lost to California earlier today 84-51 to fall to 1-6 on the year.