WALNUT CREEK CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU THANKSGIVING CLASSIC
Tulsa Hurricanes (2-2) vs. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (4-1)
Friday, November 29, 2019 at Noon
Moraga, Calif. — McKeon Pavilion
Game #6
Saint Mary's Gaels (2-3) vs. Marquette Golden Eagles (4-1)
Friday, November 29, 2019 at 2:00 p.m.
Moraga, Calif. — McKeon Pavilion
Live Stats (https://smcgaels.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary)
Watch (https://wccsports.com/watch/?id=6091873272001)
Tulsa Hurricanes (2-2) vs. Marquette Golden Eagles (4-1)
Saturday, November 30, 2019 at Noon
Moraga, Calif. — McKeon Pavilion
Game #7
Saint Mary's Gaels (2-3) vs. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (4-1)
Saturday, November 30, 2019 at 2:00 p.m.
Moraga, Calif. — McKeon Pavilion
Live Stats (https://smcgaels.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary)
Watch (https://wccsports.com/watch/?id=6091873272001)
MORAGA, Calif. — The Gaels will take a short break for the holiday before returning on Friday to begin the Walnut Creek Convention and Visitors Bureau Thanksgiving Classic with Marquette, Tulsa, and Western Kentucky.
LAST TIME OUT
Saint Mary's split their competitions last week as they took the 83-74 win against UC Davis on Tuesday before falling to No. 14 NC State 87-70 on Sunday. Against the Aggies, the Gaels produced a strong offensive night as they outshot their opponent 59.6 percent (their field goal percentage of the season) to 40.6, as well as bested them from beyond the arc with a shooting percentage of 52.4 compared to UC Davis who shot just 33.3 percent. SMC is now first in the conference in three-point field goals per game (9.4), made (47), and attempted (126). Their three-point field goal percentage (37.3) is ranked third best in the conference and 46th in the country.
HEATING UP
Sophomore Taycee Wedin has been heating up over the last two contests as she recorded new career-highs in back-to-back games. Wedin recorded a total of 28 points last week, 18 in the matchup against UC Davis and 20 in the matchup against NC State, which was more than she recorded in the first three contests combined. Her previous season-high in points was 11 which she recorded on November 8 against UC Santa Barbara and her previous career-high (17) was recorded on March 22 against Hawaii. Wedin is averaging 13 points per match up which is third best on the squad while her three-point field goal percentage is best on the team (47.5).
MARQUETTE
The Golden Eagles are off to a strong start this year as they are 4-1 through their first five competitions. They are most recently coming off of a 60-47 win over Green Bay last Tuesday following their first loss of the season against Northwestern (64-56) on November 14. Marquette will face off against Mississippi State at home before hitting the road to take on Saint Mary's at the Thanksgiving Classic. The Gaels and the Golden Eagles have only met three times in program history with the Eagles owning the 3-0 record, but the two teams have not met since December 30, 2001.
Junior Selena Lott is leading the offense for Marquette with an average of 17.8 points per game and a field goal percentage of 59.5. Sophomore Chloe Marotta is the top-defensive performer for the Golden Eagles as she is averaging eight rebounds per contest with a total of 40 on the season. Marquette as a team is posting an average of 67.2 points per matchup which is 13 more than their opponents average. They are also outrebounding their opponents as the Golden Eagles are averaging 41 per game compared to their opponents who are averaging just 29. Marquette recorded a season-high, 48 rebounds in their contest against St. Francis Brooklyn.
WESTERN KENTUCKY
The Hilltoppers are 4-1 this season and are currently on a four-game win streak as they have not dropped a matchup since their season opener against Louisville. Western Kentucky is also 3-0 at home so far and they have yet to allow their opponents to score more than 58 points on their home court. The Hilltoppers will face off against Tulsa on the first day of the Thanksgiving Classic before taking on Saint Mary's the following day. The contest between the Hilltoppers and the Gaels will be the first time in program history that the two teams will play one another.
Junior Raneem Elgedawy is leading the Hilltopper's defense as she is averaging 11 rebounds per contest. Redshirt senior Dee Givens is the top-scorer for Western Kentucky as she is recording an average of 17 points a game with a field goal percentage of 43.4. The Hilltoppers as a team are averaging 75.3 which is 15 points more than their opponents average and they are outrebounding their opponents 43.8 to 32.5. Western Kentucky has only scored less than 70 points once this season and they are 4-1 when they score 72 or more points.
#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.
