Jan. 29, 2004

Box Score

Moraga, CA - The Saint Mary's women's basketball team fell behind early and couldn't find enough offense to overcome Loyola Marymount on Thursday night at McKeon Pavilion. The Gaels led 4-2 early in the game, but that would be their last lead as the Lions pulled out a 46-43 victory to move into a first place tie in the West Coast Conference. With the loss the Gaels drop out of first place and fell to 4-2 in West Coast Conference action and 12-8 on the season. The win moves LMU into a tie with Gonzaga, who beat Santa Clara, for first place with a 5-1 WCC record and a 14-5 overall record.

Saint Mary's played its usually aggressive defensive style and held the Lions to its second lowest point total of the season and held Loyola Marymount to 37 percent shooting in the game.

The 46 points by Loyola Marymount marks the first time that Saint Mary's has lost to an opponent while holding them to under 48 points. The Gaels were previously 7-0 when they accomplished that goal.

Offensively the Gaels were led by Lauren Shaughnessy and Monica Mertle, who each had nine points. The nine points by Shaughnessy matches a career-high. Serena Benavente, Evynn Van Burger and Triola Jackson each added six points for Saint Mary's and Brianna Winn added five.

In the game Saint Mary's shot 29 percent from the field and 36 percent from the 3-point line, while turning the ball over 17 times. The Gaels outrebounded LMU 38-34 and held the Lions to 22 percent shooting from 3-point range.

The Gaels return to action on Saturday, January 31 when they host the Pepperdine Waves at 7:05 p.m. at McKeon Pavilion. Pepperdine is coming off a 71-55 victory against USF.