MALIBU, Calif. – Sydney Raggio's career-night and a late fourth-quarter surge were not enough to overcome Pepperdine on Saturday and the Gael's ultimately fell 77-72.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• QUARTER 1 | The Waves got out to an early 8-2 lead over the Gaels in the first period before Saint Mary's tied the game 8-8 with roughly five minutes left to go in the quarter. The two teams traded buckets until the end of the period, with Carly Turner and Sydney Raggio recording multiple key blocks to keep Pepperdine within reach. The Gaels collected 16 points in the paint in the first period and eight rebounds, but at the end of the first the Waves were on top 21-17.

 

• QUARTER 2 | Pepperdine went on a 5-0 run to start the second quarter and then extended their lead over the Gaels to 10 points. The Gaels connected on a number of layups and brought the lead within six at the seven-minute-mark, before the two teams went scoreless for the next two minutes. The teams went point-for-point through the final five minutes of the half but the Waves continued to hold the advantage over the Gaels and went into the half with a 46-38 lead. At the half, the team was shooting 53 percent and Raggio was leading the team with 14 points.

 

• QUARTER 3 | Saint Mary's came out tough in the second half and responded to each bucket that the Waves put up. Megan McKay put up four rebounds in the third period and recorded important points in the paint for the Gaels to keep Pepperdine within seven or eight points for most of the quarter. A surge for SMC that began with roughly 3:45 left to play brought the Gaels within four points of the Waves, but they were unable to maintain control and the final three conversions of the period went to Pepperdine. The two teams went into the final frame with the Gaels trailing the Waves 62-53.

 

• QUARTER 4 | Sydney Raggio scored the first points of the final quarter with a layup that brought Pepperdine within seven points, and shortly after collected her fourth block of the day. Raggio shot 66 percent for the Gaels on Saturday and ended the day with a career-high 28 points, having broken her previous record of 24 that she recorded during the November 9 game against Wyoming. Unfortunately her dominance and the fact that the team outscored the Waves in the final period 19 to 15, were not enough to break through and take back the lead. The Gaels ultimately fell to the Waves with a final score of 77-72.

NUMBERS TO KNOW

• 6: Number of blocks for Saint Mary's, two shy of their season-high
• 28: Career-high points for Sydney Raggio
• 49.2: The Gaels' field-goal percentage compared to Pepperdine's 35.8
• 54: Point in the paint for the Gaels

COMING UP

Saint Mary's will now return to Moraga for their final regular season game of 2019 on Friday at 7 p.m. versus Pacific.

#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.