Women's Basketball Gets Defensive in Victory

Thursday, December 30

McKeon Pavilion

7:05 PM

Saint Mary's College of California

Marist

Women's Basketball Gets Defensive in Victory

12/30/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball

Dec. 30, 2004

Box Score

Moraga, CA - The Saint Mary's women's basketball team held visiting Marist College to 20.9 percent shooting for the game, and came back from a five-point halftime deficit to beat the Red Foxes 49-40 on Thursday night at McKeon Pavilion. The 40 points allowed was a season low for the Gaels, who are now holding their opponents to an average of 60.2 points per game.

Saint Mary's started off slow in the first half, but came back to shoot 54.2 percent over the final 20 minutes and outscored Marist 35-21 to improve to 8-5 overall. Thursday's game was the Gaels' final non-conference game and will head into West Coast Conference play on Thursday, January 6, when they travel to Portland to face the Pilots at 7:05 p.m.

The Gaels were led offensively by Brianna Winn and Triola Jackson. Winn scored a game-high 11 points and added five rebounds in a career-high 30 minutes. Jackson added 10 points, six rebounds and three assists in 30 minutes of action.

Evynn Van Burger contributed nine points, including two 3-pointers, and five rebounds and Maija Lahde had seven points, three rebounds and two steals.

After falling behind 19-14 at the half, the Gaels opened the second half with a 7-0 run to take a 21-19 lead. Marist came back to take a 24-23 lead, but after a Eghosa Obaiza layup with 13:04 left in the game, Saint Mary's took a 25-24 lead and never gave it up.

By holding the Red Foxes to 40 points, the Gaels have now held five opponents to 52 points or less. The 20.9 percent field goal percentage for Marist was a season-low allowed by the Gaels.

After 13 non-conference games, the Gaels are led overall by Jackson, who is averaging 15.9 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, and has started all 13 games in her senior season. Evynn Van Burger is scoring 11.2 points per game and grabbing 3.9 rebounds and Brianna Winn is averaging 7.2 points and 2.5 rebounds per game.

Saint Mary's returns to action on Thursday, January 6, when it travels to Portland to face the Pilots at 7:05 p.m. The Gaels will then face Gonzaga at 2:05 p.m. on Saturday, January 8. Both games can be heard live on www.SMCGaels.com.