Jan. 19, 2006

Box Score

Moraga, CA - The Saint Mary's women's basketball team battled back-and-forth with the West Coast Conference's top team, but in the end the Loyola Marymount Lions pulled out a 68-62 victory on Thursday night at McKeon Pavilion.

Saint Mary's trailed by as many as 11 points with 5:01 remaining in the game, but the Gaels cut the lead to 62-59 with 31 second left after a Monica Mertle 3-pointer.

The Gaels comeback got even closer after Mertle hit another 3-pointer to cut the lead to 64-62, but LMU's Jenni Smith hit two clutch free throws with 10 seconds remaining to put the game out of reach.

With the loss the Gaels fall to 2-2 in conference play and 7-10 overall. Loyola Marymount remains undefeated with the win, improving to 5-0 in conference play and 11-7 overall. The Lions also have won their last eight games.

Offensively Saint Mary's was led by Monica Mertle, who had 11 points and six rebounds and Jontelle Smith had 10 points and two assists.

Sheridan Arredondo had nine points and three rebounds and Eghosa Obaiza added eight points off the bench.

As a team the Gaels shot 40.4 percent from the field and 50 percent from 3-point range. Loyola Marymount shot 44.1 percent from the field and 57.1 percent from 3-point range. The Lions were led offensively by Amanda Patton, who had 15 points on five 3-pointers and Rachael Ziemann added 18 points off the bench.

Saint Mary's returns to action on Saturday, January 21 when it hosts Pepperdine at 2:05 p.m. at McKeon Pavilion.