Big second half lifts women's basketball over Gardner-Webb

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From SMUMustangs.com:

Big Second Half Propels SMU Over Gardner-Webb

BERKELEY, Calif – Hot shooting fueled an 84-71 SMU triumph over Gardner-Webb at Haas Arena Saturday.

The Mustangs converted 61.1% (33-54) from the field, including 18 of 26 (69.2%) in the second half.

SMU moved to 6-2 on the season, while the Runnin' Bulldogs dropped to 5-3.

Ella Brow made her first collegiate start, tallying six points, six rebounds, a team-high six assists, a block and a steal.

Just 26 seconds into the second half, Layken Cox cut the Mustangs' lead to 34-33, but SMU responded by scoring the next 12 points. Lauren Bevis stopped the spurt with a triple, closing the margin to 46-36 but the Mustangs answered with a 15-2 spurt. Jasmine Smith's 3-point bucket with 1:43 remaining in the period increased the Mustangs margin to the largest of the contest at 23 (61-38).

Smith paced a quartet of Mustangs in double figures with 18, hitting 7 of 9, including 3 of 3 beyond the arc. She added eight rebounds, four assists and a steal. Chantae Embry netted 16 points, while Savannah Wilkinson totaled 15. Tamia Jones chipped in with 10.

SMU never trailed, grabbing the lead when Smith opened the scoring with a layup 13-seconds in. The Mustangs knocked down 9 of 14, with 12 points coming in the paint to open a six-point gap after one. SMU held Gardner-Webb to 33.3% (6-18) from the field.

In the second, the Runnin' Bulldogs utilized the long ball to slice into the deficit, trailing 34-31 at the half. The Runnin' Bulldogs knocked down five shots in the quarter, with four from 3-point range.

Following the third quarter, Gardner-Webb posted 25 points, the most successful stanza for the Runnin' Bulldogs. The Mustangs maintained their advantage, draining 7 of 10 from the field and 7 of 9 at the free-throw line.

SMU Points Leader: Jasmine Smith (18)
SMU Rebounds Leader: Jasmine Smith (8)
SMU Assists Leader: Ella Brow (6)
SMU Steals Leader: Five Players (1)
SMU Blocks Leader: Savannah Wilkinson (3)

TEAM RECORDS AND SERIES NOTES TEAM NOTES
ΓÇó SMU moved to 6-2 on the season, while Gardner-Webb dropped to 5-3.
ΓÇó The Mustangs lead the all-time series 2-0.
ΓÇó SMU won the previous meeting 69-61, at the Puerto Rico Classic in San Juan, Puerto Rico Dec. 20, 2015.

TEAM RECORDS
ΓÇó The Mustangs won their fifth-straight game, matching the longest winning streak since the 2013-14 campaign.
ΓÇó The Mustangs ran off five last season, the first season under Toyelle Wilson.
ΓÇó SMU held its seventh opponent below their scoring average in eight games.
ΓÇó The Mustangs shot a season high 61.1% from the floor and recorded a season high 21 assists on 33 buckets.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES
ΓÇó Senior G Jasmine Smith tallied a team-high 18 points and eight rebounds, with four assists, and one steal.
ΓÇó Sophomore F Chantae Embry netted 16 points, seven boards, two assists and one steal in 18 minutes.
ΓÇó Senior F Savannah Wilkinson totaled 15 points, five rebounds, two assists and three blocks.
ΓÇó Junior G Tamia Jones recorded 10 points, five boards, four assists and one steal.
ΓÇó Freshman G Ella Brow chipped in with six points, six rebounds, a game-high six assists, one steal and block.
ΓÇó Sophomore C Jessica Peterson contributed six points, three boards, one steal and a block.
ΓÇó Junior F Amirah Abdur-Rahim added seven points and a rebound in seven minutes of action.
ΓÇó Freshman G Jiya Perry posted three points, two rebounds and two assists.
ΓÇó Sophomore G Tymberlin Criswell distributed an assist.

UP NEXT
SMU and Cal follow the Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Runnin' Bulldogs game, which tips at 1 p.m. CT. Cal knocked off the Golden Lions 84-51 in the opener Saturday.