Nov. 9, 2003

Box Score

Moraga, CA - The Saint Mary's women's basketball team opened the 2003-04 season with a 60-54 victory over the Latvian Select basketball team on Sunday in an exhibition game played at McKeon Pavilion. The Gaels led the entire game and had two players reach double-digits in scoring. Saint Mary's opens its regular season on Friday, November 21 when the take on the San Diego State Aztecs at 5 p.m. in San Diego, CA.

Saint Mary's received a game-high 17 points from junior forward Triola Jackson, who is coming off a sophomore season where she was named to the All-West Coast Conference First Team. Jackson was 7-of-12 from the field and grabbed a team-high six rebounds. The Gaels also received 11 points from sophomore Evynn Van Burger.

The Gaels used their pressure defense to force the Latvian Select team into 34 turnovers, including three steals each by freshman Lauren Shaughnessy and junior Savannah Williams. For six of Saint Mary's 13 players in uniform, Sunday's game was their first action in a collegiate basketball game. The Gaels freshman backcourt of Serena Benavente and Shaughnessy combined for eight points, six assists and five steals. Benavente and Shaughnessy each had four points. Saint Mary's freshman forward Monica Mertle started the game and played 24 minutes while recording seven points and four rebounds in her debut.