Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

SMC California Athletics

Saint Mary's College Athletics Gaels
Brianna Simonich
Tod Fierner
39
Saint Mary's (CA) SMC 11-14,6-8 WCC
60
Winner BYU BY 14-9,9-4 WCC
Saint Mary's (CA) SMC
11-14,6-8 WCC
39
Final
60
BYU BY
14-9,9-4 WCC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Saint Mary's (CA) SMC 7 7 9 16 39
BYU BY 25 11 11 13 60

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

WBB | Gaels Drop Contest to BYU on the Road

MORAGA, Calif. – The Gaels struggled on Thursday night as BYU took the 39-60 victory in a difficult road contest.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS
BYU got off to a hot start on Thursday as they held SMC to just seven points in the first quarter and held an 18-point advantage at the end of the first ten minutes. The Cougars started the game on a 17-0 run before SMC was able to hit their first bucket in the sixth minute of the game. The Gaels made two buckets and shot 11 percent in the initial period as well as two successful free throws for their only offense of the quarter. The Cougars, on the other hand, shot 62 percent from the field and 100 percent (5-5) from beyond the arc in the first period. Paisley Johnson for BYU was a problem for Saint Mary's in the first quarter as she recorded eight points (3-5 FG, 2-2 3FG) along with a rebound and two assists. Saint Mary's ended the half shooting just 15 percent compared to BYU's 42 percent, as the teams went into the break with the home team leading 36-14. 

QUIET NIGHT
Some of the top producers for the Gaels this season have consistently been sophomore duo Sam Simons and Taycee Wedin. Unfortunately, BYU was effective in shutting down the pair in Thursday's meeting. Simons is averaging 15.6 points per game this year, but was held to just 10 in the matchup, her lowest total since January 16 against San Diego. She was, however, able to collect a team-high three assists on the night.  Wedin, who is averaging 13 points per game and leads the Gaels with a 47 percent three-point average, was held to just two points in the entire contest which she wasn't able to score until the final period of the contest. Junior Madeline Holland was also stifled against the Cougars as she scored two points. 

SILVER LININGS
Despite a difficult loss in Provo, there were a number of positive stats to come out of Thursday night's contest. The Gaels recorded a total of 14 offensive rebounds in the game, seven per half, which is just one shy of their season-high as a team, which they recorded on November 30 against Western Kentucky. Junior Brianna Simonich led the team with four offensive rebounds, which ties her previous career-high that she earned on November 8 against UC Santa Barbara and has tied two other times this season. The Gaels' strength in the post resulted in 14 points off of rebounds. Every SMC player who checked into the game against BYU scored at least a point on Thursday as Saint Mary's racked up 15 bench points in the game. 

UP NEXT
The Gaels will continue their roadtrip following the matchup against BYU as they travel south to take on San Diego on Saturday at 2:00 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.
 
Print Friendly Version