Jan. 11, 2003

Final Stats

Moraga, CA - The Saint Mary's women's basketball team (7-7/0-1 WCC) dropped its West Coast Conference opener to the San Francisco Lady Dons (6-9/1-0 WCC), 58-56, in front of 1,633 fans at McKeon Pavilion.

"I thought it was a good job our team responded well and never quit," commented head coach Michelle Jacoby. "We still need to do better on the boards and we had four more turnovers than I would have liked."

In the first half the Lady Dons took a 9-2 advantage early on behind the efforts of Joy Hollingsworth. The Gaels then went on a 7-0 run to tie the game at nine at the 14:54 minute mark. Both teams then exchanged baskets throughout the rest of the first half. There was a total of seven ties and six lead changes in the first. Unfortunately, the Gaels were invisible on the boards as USF held a 12-0 advantage in offensive rebounds.

In the first half the Gaels shot 59.1 percent from the field (13-22), 66.7 percent from beyond the arc (2-3) and 71.4 percent from the free throw line (5-7).

With 15 minutes remaining in the first half, Julie Morris (Moraga, CA), who recovered from an ankle-injury suffered against Fresno State, hit a three-pointer to give the Gaels a four-point lead. With the Gaels leading by three at the 7:08 minute mark, the Lady Dons went on a 12-0 run to take a nine-point lead with 2:30 remaining. The Gaels then forced two turnovers, while SMC shot 4-for-6 from the field, to tie the score at 56 points each. But with 38 second left on the clock, USF's Carey Sauer layed in two of her 17 total points to give USF the victory.

"All the team's in our conference are very good this year," noted Morris. "Were not just gonna show up and win."

Morris finished the game with a team-high 13 points. She also had two blocks, two steals and one assist. Triola Jackson (San Diego, CA) finished with 12 points on the night with a team-high nine rebounds. USF's Hollingsworth had a career-high 20 points to go along with her eight rebounds.

The Gaels will return to West Coast Conference action when they travel to Portland to play the Pilots on Thursday, January 16. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:05 PM.

-SMC-