Women's Basketball Edged by Santa Barbara 67-58

Sunday, December 4

Santa Barbara, CA

2:00 PM

Saint Mary's College of California

at UC Santa Barbara

Women's Basketball Edged by Santa Barbara 67-58

12/4/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball

Dec. 4, 2005

Box Score

Santa Barbara, CA- The Saint Mary's women's basketball team suffered a 67-58 loss to UC Santa Barbara Sunday afternoon from the Thunderdome on the UCSB campus. Freshman Jontelle Smith led the Gaels with a career-high 22 points but it wasn't enough as the Gaels fell to 2-4 on the season.

The Gaels jumped on the Gauchos early walking into the locker room at intermission with a 42-34 lead. SMC was electric in the first half hitting on 52-percent (15-of-29) of their shots. The Gaels shot an alarming 63-percent (5-of-8) from beyond the arc in the period as well.

But as the second half wore down, the Gauchos kept chipping at the lead until they eventually captured it for good on their only 3-pointer in the half. UCSB (1-5) outscored SMC 33-16 in the second half.

UCSB only hit from beyond the arc twice but no shot was bigger than Jessica Wilson's bucket from three with 1:14 left in the game. With the shot clock down to two seconds, Wilson drained the three from the left corner to seal the lead for good for the Gauchos.

For the Gaels, Smith's career high 22 points ended up being the only double-digit mark the SMC. Smith was 9-of-18 from the floor and 2-of-5 from three. Sophomore Maija Lahde finished with nine points, shooting 4-of-5 from the field and 1-of-1 from three.

The Gauchos were led by Jenna Green who poured in 23 points on 8-of-14 shooting. Autumn Nichols chipped in 15 and Lashay Fears added 12, shooting 6-of-6 from the charity stripe.

The Gauchos finished 75-percent (21-28) from the line while the Gaels struggled with a 50-percent (9-of-18) mark on the afternoon. The Gaels were out-rebounded 53-31 and 29-10 on the offensive glass.

Saint Mary's will return to the friendly confines of McKeon Pavilion where the Gaels are a perfect 2-0. SMC will host Southern Utah on Saturday, December 10 with tip-off slated for 7 p.m.