WBB | Gaels Produce Strong First Half But Fall 69-67 Versus Wyoming

Sunday, November 10

Laramie, Wyo.

Noon

Saint Mary's College of California

1-2

Wyoming

2-0

Saint Mary's

Wyoming

Photo by: Tod Fierner

WBB | Gaels Produce Strong First Half But Fall 69-67 Versus Wyoming

11/10/2019 1:53:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

MORAGA, Calif. – The Gaels had an explosive first half on Sunday against the Wyoming Cowgirls, but eventually fell by just two points.

HOW IT HAPPENED

QUARTER 1 | Wyoming scored the initial three points of the matchup on Sunday before junior Emily Codding hit her first three-pointer of the game followed by a layup to secure the first five points for the Gaels. SMC took control of a 10-0 run over a two-minute period in the middle of the quarter to pull out to a 15-7 lead. From 8:20 on the clock until 2:20, the Cowgirls were unable to score until a successful layup brought the score to 15-9. At the end of the first quarter, it was all Saint Mary's as they ended the quarter on a 15-2 run to take the 20-9 lead. The Gaels outshot the Cowgirls 55 percent compared to 22 percent. From beyond the arc, SMC shot 57.1 percent compared to Wyoming who did not make a three in the first period. Junior Madeline Holland led the team with seven points, while sophomore Sam Simons was the rebound-leader for the Gaels with three.

QUARTER 2 | The Cowgirls went 5-2 through the first two minutes of the second quarter as they recorded their first trey of the game to come within nine points of the Gaels. Saint Mary's continued to push the pace as they senior Brianna Simonich picked up five points included her first three-pointer of the game to maintain SMC's steady lead. The two teams stepped up defensively during the middle period of the quarter as there was a nearly four minute stretch where neither team recorded a bucket. Saint Mary's broke the scoreless streak with a layup from Simons to take the 29-16 lead over Wyoming. The Cowgirls then went on a 7-0 run to end the quarter to cut the lead to six points going into the half. SMC outrebounded their opponent 27 to 19 in the first half while Codding led the team with five, followed by freshman Finau Tonga who had four.

QUARTER 3 | Saint Mary's was able to score the first two points of the third quarter on a layup from senior Claire Ferguson, but Wyoming was fresh from their break and went on a 7-2 run to come within two points of the Gaels. The Cowgirls and the Gaels kept it close through the middle of the quarter as the teams traded buckets back-and-forth, although SMC continued to remain in the lead. With less than a minute to go in the third period, Saint Mary's held a 49-43 advantage over Wyoming before the Cowgirls were able to hit a three as time expired and the quarter ended with SMC ahead 49-46. The Gaels picked up eight rebounds in the third as Codding added two more to her total and Simons took over as the second place leader with six.

QUARTER 4 | Shortly after the beginning of the final frame, the Cowgirls pulled within one point of the Gaels (51-50). With just under seven minutes to go in the game, Wyoming took the two-point lead following a successful three and broke out a 12-0 run to take the 58-51 lead. Simons broke a scoreless streak for SMC with two made free throws, but the Cowgirls responded with a trey to remain ahead 61-53. With under three minutes to go, Wyoming took a timeout as they led by just six points. Codding scored three points to bring the Gaels within three, but another jumper from the Cowgirls would keep them ahead by five. Holland made the steal on an in-bound pass from Wyoming with just under 40 seconds to go in the match which she then turned into a successful jumper to bring the score to 63-61 in favor of Wyoming. Sophmore Taycee Wedin nailed a three with 22 seconds to go and brought the Gaels within one point, but a foul gave Wyoming two free throws and the 67-64 lead. Both teams fouled one another to bring the score to 65-69 and Codding made a layup in the final moments, but it was not enough and Wyoming went on to win 69-67.

NUMBERS TO KNOW

18: Total points for Codding on Sunday which both led the team and is a new season-high for her
49: The Gaels outrebounded the Cowgirls 49 to 41
41.9: Saint Mary's shooting percentage compared to Wyoming (35.1)
3: Wedin shot a team-high, three three-pointers in the contest

COMING UP

Saint Mary's will return to Moraga for their next game as they look to face off against UC Davis on Tuesday, November 19 at 6:30 p.m.

#GaelsRise – For ticket information to all home basketball games, call the SMC Ticket Office today at 925-631-4689 or click the ticket link here to purchase your seats now.