MORAGA, Calif. — The second game of a three-game home stand inside University Credit Union Pavilion wrapped up on Saturday with the Gaels taking on the second-place team in the WCC in BYU. The Cougars presented a tough matchup in the form of strong play in the post, but it was the three-point shooting of both teams that was on display. A tight contest throughout wound up going towards the Cougars by a final score of 65-55, dropping the Gaels to 9-10 (4-4) while BYU improves to 10-7 (5-2).
 
OFF TO THE RACES
 
An unfortunate recent trend for the Gaels has been an inability to start fast and take an early lead. That was not the case on Saturday, as Saint Mary's roared out in front over the Cougars with an 11-2 advantage. Madeline Holland opened things up in the first possession with a three-pointer, and after she followed with a layup, Taycee Wedin caught fire with a pair of catch-and-shoot threes to send BYU into a timeout. During the previous three games, all losses for the Gaels, they trailed by 11, 9, and 11 points after the first quarter. Against BYU, the Gaels led 20-17 after the first ten minutes.
 
RAINING THREES
 
It's been well-documented about how prolific the Gaels are shooting the ball from three-point range, as they rank inside the top-ten in the country in three-pointers made and percentage. That was on display once again by SMC on Saturday, but the Cougars were matching the Gaels shot for shot. Both teams knocked down 11 threes in the game, the ninth time this season that SMC has made at least 10 threes in a game.
 
THE FINAL MINUTES
 
It took the Gaels nearly five minutes into the fourth quarter before they were able to get a basket, courtesy of a three-pointer from Tyra Moe, making it just a 54-52 BYU lead. At that point, neither team was shooting particularly well in the period, with the two teams opening up the quarter shooting 2-15. BYU then opened the game up to a seven-point lead until Claire Ferguson knocked down her fifth three of the season to make it 59-55. With the game hanging in the balances, the Gaels could not pull any closer, failing to make a shot during the final two minutes of play.
 
OF NOTE
 
Sam Simons recorded her second double-double of the season, with 13 points and 13 rebounds…the rebound total tied a career-best for Simons…with 16 points, Wedin has now scored at least 15 in five of the last six games…Holland finished the game with 11 points, the ninth game in a row she has scored at least 11 points.
 
UP NEXT
 
The Gaels have a lighter load next week as they have just one game on the schedule, a West Coast Conference affair against the University of the Pacific on Saturday, January 25. Tip-off inside University Credit Union Pavilion is set for 2:00 pm and stands as the final home game of the month of January for the Gaels.
 
#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.