Jan. 31, 2004

Box Score

Moraga, CA - The Saint Mary's women's basketball team suffered its second consecutive defeat on Saturday night, falling to the Pepperdine Waves 58-56 in front of 1019 fans at McKeon Pavilion. With the loss the Gaels fall to 4-3 in West Coast Conference action and 12-9 on the season. Pepperdine improved to 4-3 in WCC action and 10-10 on the season.

The Gaels once again played solid defensively, holding the Waves to 36 percent shooting for the game, but failed to shoot the ball well from the floor, shooting 22 percent (13-57) and turning the ball over 17 times.

Saint Mary's took a 13-9 lead in the first half, but never led again. The closest the Gaels would come would be 56-56 after Triola Jackson tied the game with a free throw with 1:10 seconds left in the game. But Pepperdine's Kelli Spencer hit the game-winning jump shot with 54 seconds remaining to give the Waves the victory.

In the game the Gaels were led offensively by Sheridan Arredondo, who scored 14 points and grabbed a career-high nine rebounds, including 10-of-14 from the free throw line. Jackson added nine points and eight rebounds, Monica Mertle had eight points and Eghosa Obaiza had seven points and four rebounds.

With the poor shooting performance from the floor, the Gaels made up for it from the free throw line. Saint Mary's shot 70 percent as a team, which included going 26-of-37.

Saint Mary's returns to action on Saturday, February 7 when it hosts San Francisco at 7:05 p.m. at McKeon Pavilion.