WBK | Saint Mary's Turnaround Comes At Right Time
2/1/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
MORAGA, Calif. — Don't look now, but the Saint Mary's women's basketball team is right where it's supposed to be.
A third-place pick in the West Coast Conference preseason poll, it was an unimpressive start to 2016-17 for the Gaels (12-9, 7-3 WCC). SMC began the year with eight losses in its first 14 games, including 0-5 in contests decided by five points or less. But three weeks later and the Gaels are just a game out of first place and have won four straight and six of their last seven.
Saint Mary's will look to continue its hot streak this week in the comfort of its own home with two games at McKeon Pavilion. SMC hosts Pacific at 6:30 p.m. Thursday and San Diego at 1 p.m. Saturday. Tickets for these and all remaining home games are available for purchase on SMCGaels.com or by calling the SMC Ticket Office at (925) 631-GoTx.
With the sudden 180-degree turnaround, the question remains – what has gotten into these Gaels?
BALANCE BRINGS SERENITY
The departure of two-time first team all-WCC Lauren Nicholson was palpable early on as the Gaels struggled to find their go-to person when the going got tough. Of Saint Mary's first eight losses, the team was within one basket during the fourth quarter in seven of them. In four of those, it had fourth quarter leads.
Saint Mary's vs. Pacific/San Diego |
Thurs./Sat., Feb. 2/4, 2017 • 6:30/1 p.m. |
| GAME NOTES: Saint Mary's has won four straight and six of its last seven ... The Gaels have beaten Pacific three times in a row ... Pacific has lost three consecutive road games ... USD's buzzer-beating win on Dec. 31 snapped a six-game SMC winning streak in the series ... Saint Mary's has outscored opponents in the paint by 20 or more for three straight games. |
But a semblance of balance and fortitude as of late has helped the Gaels become expert closers. Saint Mary's is 3-1 in its last four games decided by five or less, including back-to-back barn burners last week against its Bay Area rivals San Francisco and Santa Clara – both two-point victories in the final seconds. The Gaels have had at least three double-figure scorers in four of their last six games, and have had eight or more players score points in five of the last seven.
Now that the season's kind of in flow and we're halfway through, I think the energy's picking up," said redshirt senior guard Shannon Mauldin. "We're starting to get to know the people in our conference more, getting comfortable. Knowing where each other are on the court and just having fun now."
Mauldin, herself, has come on as of late. She has started five of the last six games and was the Gaels' leading scorer in both battles last week. It was her steal, subsequent floating runner in the lane and final defensive rebound that beat Santa Clara in the final 66 seconds Saturday.
Just our mindset, like now we're all in-tune, focused and everything," said Mauldin about what has changed for Saint Mary's. "And like I said, we're just having fun now. I think that's the main thing. We have each other's back and just doing it.
Coming back from injury is always scary, you're just nervous," she added about herself. "I have nothing to lose. My mindset had to change."
LEARNING TO WIN IN DIFFERENT WAYS
Saint Mary's only loss during its current hot streak was against first-place Gonzaga on Jan. 14. It was a game the Gaels led for more than 33 minutes, only to succumb to turnovers and a late Bulldogs run.
At the beginning of the season, turnovers appeared to be the direct correlation to many of Saint Mary's close losses. But while the turnovers have stayed relatively steady, the Gaels have learned to win in other ways. SMC is the outright best rebounding team in the WCC. Its +10.7 rebounding margin is No. 7 in the country. The Gaels average 42.4 rebounds per game and have collected 45 or more boards eight times (7-1 in those games).
With every game we play we're really improving and we're building off of every game," said redshirt freshman guard Jasmine Forcadilla. "Our team chemistry is picking up. We were a little bit all over the place in the start of the season but now we're really coming together nicely.
I think we all realized that we can't rely on one single person, that we all have to carry our own weight and hold ourselves and each other accountable. I think that made the difference."
"I think we just have to keep building and keep getting better with every game and keep up the intensity." - Redshirt Freshman Jasmine Forcadilla |
REFINING THE PROCESS
Saint Mary's has also improved on its free-throw shooting recently, which has long been a strength of the team's. Last season the Gaels made the most free throws (559) in the entire country and were No. 7 nationally with a 77.9 free-throw percentage. But after a season-worst 46.4 percent (13 for 28) performance versus Loyola Marymount on Dec. 29, SMC has only dipped below 73 percent in a game twice. The Gaels lead the WCC in free throws made and attempted, and have raised their percentage nearly four points to 71.3.
I think the first half of league is a learning process; you're adjusting," said Saint Mary's head coach Paul Thomas. "The games become a little bit more of a grind than a flow (the second time around).
I can't say that they're getting more comfortable or more confident, because our main group has been in a lot of those games. I think we're executing a little bit better, and it's all about putting people in the right spots at the right time and the right person, whether the right person is getting the stop or the right person is taking the shot."
In its last seven games, Saint Mary's has won in blowouts (21 points, 16 points) and thrillers (three wins by three points or less). It has won in multiple ways, making 10 3-pointers on two occasions, and outscoring opponents in the paint by 20 or more for three straight games now. The defense has also come alive, holding opponents to no more than 62 points during the four-game winning streak.
I think it's a combination of getting good time on the practice floor and letting your bodies recover," said Thomas about continuing the Gaels' rise. "If we're wise and smart and most importantly – if the student-athletes understand that and take advantage of those things – then I think you become way more durable. You're more fresh at the end of the league. This league appears it could be going down to the last three or four games and then obviously the conference tournament."
I think we just have to keep building and keep getting better with every game and keep up the intensity," said Forcadilla. "Don't settle with what we have now."
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