Women's Hoops Squeaks Out Road Win at USD, 63-60

Thursday, February 20

San Diego, CA

7:00 PM

Saint Mary's College of California

at San Diego

Women's Hoops Squeaks Out Road Win at USD, 63-60

2/20/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball

Feb. 20, 2003

Final Stats

San Diego, CA - The Saint Mary's women's basketball team ( 11-14/4-7 WCC) took a share of fourth place in the West Coast Conference after defeating the San Diego Toreros (10-14/4-7 WCC), 63-60, on Thursday, February 20 at the Jenny Craig Pavilion.

The Gaels would take the game's first lead and would never trail from then on. With 13:42 left in the first half, the Toreros tied the game at 11 points. Saint Mary's would then build up enough steam to tally a 19-4 run, giving SMC a 15-point advantage. The Gaels then began to cruise, allowing USD to get within seven points at the half. In the first half the Gaels were a remarkable 14-for-24 from the field compared to the Toreros 11-for-32 mark.

In the second half, the Gaels quickly jumped out to a 12-point lead to gain a marginal advantage over the Toreros. Triola Jackson (San Diego, CA) was on fire hitting six of her first six shots as she tallied a game-high 19 points in her hometown return. San Diego would slowly inch back into the ballgame, but the Gaels seemed to have an answer for the Toreros each time. The Gaels would look to lose their focus late in the game as senior-leader, Julie Morris (Moraga, CA), hit the court with what looks to be a dislocated elbow. The forward will have x-rays when the Gaels return home. So with the Gaels' heart-and-soul on the bench, SMC closed out the game with solid free-throw shooting and, luckily, a missed three-pointer by the Toreros' Kerri Nakamoto.

Besides Jackson's 19 points, Carey Noakes (Piscataway, NJ) finished with 14 points, while Morris had 10 points. Danielle Ferris (Eureka, CA) tallied a game and career-high eight rebounds.

The Gaels will continue WCC action when they take on the Broncos of Santa Clara on Saturday, February 22. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:05 PM in the Leavey Center.