STOCKTON, Calif. – After the score changed hands seven times in the first quarter, Saint Mary's was unable to recover after trailing Pacific by two points to enter the second period. SMC's offense was led by senior Sydney Raggio's third double-double of the season, but it was not enough to overcome the Tigers in the WCC Opener on New Year's Eve.

HOW IT HAPPENED
 

• QUARTER 1 | The Gaels took their first lead of the game (6-4) at the 7:21 mark when Raggio scored a 3-pointer from the near corner. SMC extended their lead to four points when sophomore Emily Codding hit a 10-foot jumper in their next possession. The Tigers responded with a 7-2 run to take a 1-point, 11-10 lead with 5:34 to play in the first quarter, but the Gaels came right back with another basket from Codding to retake the lead. Saint Mary's stretched their advantage to four points once again, but with 1:56 on the clock, Pacific managed to tie the contest at 17-points apiece. By the end of the first quarter, the lead changed hands seven times and the Tigers led by two (21-19).

 

• QUARTER 2 | The Gaels recorded their first bucket of the second quarter at the 8:12 mark when senior Carly Turner made a 3-pointer to pull SMC within one point (23-22). 61 seconds later, Turner landed her second triple of the game and Saint Mary's pulled ahead 25-23. The Tigers tied the game in their next possession and used a free throw and a pair of layups to go ahead by five. SMC trailed by five points on three occasions in the period, but Pacific went on an 8-2 run to close out the half. The Gaels trailed 41-34 as both sides headed to the locker rooms.

 

• QUARTER 3 | Junior Jasmine Forcadilla started the half with a 3-pointer to cut SMC's deficit to four points, but the Tigers responded with a 6-2 run to pull ahead by eight (47-39) with 7:55 remaining. Four straight Saint Mary's points from Forcadilla and senior Megan McKay prompted Pacific to call a timeout with 6:20 on the clock. Codding made a layup following the timeout which stretched the Gaels' run to six-consecutive points, dropping their deficit to just two points (47-45). Both sides traded points for the remainder of the quarter, but Pacific still held a 6-point, 60-54 lead as the game entered to the final 10 minutes.

 

• QUARTER 4 | The Tigers pulled ahead by 10 with 8:10 remaining after opening the final period with four-straight points. The Gaels responded with seven unanswered points of their own to pull within three, but four more Tiger points cushioned their advantage to seven with 6:03 remaining. Pacific took their biggest lead of the game with 1:36 remaining when they led by 11 (76-65). Freshman Sam Simons made a jumper in response to cut the deficit to nine, but SMC could come no closer as they fell by the final score of 76-67.

 
NUMBERS TO KNOW
 

• 14/11: No. of points and rebounds for Raggio who recorded her third double-double of the season
• 3: No. of Gaels who scored double-digit points (Raggio, Codding, and Forcadilla)
• 39%: SMC held Pacific to 39 percent shooting
• 18: No. of points contributed by SMC's bench

 
COMING UP
 
Saint Mary's continues a busy schedule to open conference-play as they play two more games this week at No. 17 Gonzaga and Portland on Thursday and Saturday respectively.