MORAGA, Calif. -- Saint Mary's College coaches and administrators met Monday with members of the Bay Area Women's Sports Initiative (BAWSI) with an eye toward fostering a partnership and enhancing the Gaels' community outreach efforts among women and girls.

Coaches from almost all of Saint Mary's women's sports attended the luncheon, held in the Hall of Fame Lounge in McKeon Pavilion. Saint Mary's Director of Athletics Mark Orr and BAWSI CEO and co-founder Marlene Bjornsrud also attended the event.

"Marlene and her colleagues have spent the better part of the last decade working tirelessly to serve women and girls in our community," Orr said. "Their suggestions and advice are another great step toward making sure we continue Saint Mary's commitment to community service and our Lasallian mission."

The group discussed the creation of a "Dad's and Daughters" night to be held at a future Saint Mary's women's basketball game, as well as a "Women in Sports Networking Night" to be held on campus as well.

Conversation also centered around the Gaels' exisiting community service programs. While service has always played an important role on any Saint Mary's team, coaches had the opportunity to ask questions and gain valuable insight into how to tailor their program's efforts in the future.

"I think it's huge for all of us women's sport coaches to sit together and bounce ideas off each other, see what teams are doing that has worked and what hasn't worked," said women's basketball assistant coach Allyson Fasnacht. "Getting a perspective from a service organization like BAWSI as to ideas and things we can do better is always a good thing."

To learn more about the Bay Area Women's Sports Initiative, visit the organization's website at www.bawsi.org.