DAVIS, Calif. – Another strong fourth quarter powered the Saint Mary's Women's Basketball team to a 52-50 win at UC Davis on Saturday afternoon to improve to 2-0 on the young season, with both wins coming on the road. The last time the Gaels started 2-0 was the 2018-19 season when they finished 21-12 overall.
 
The Gaels displayed some stifling defense in the final frame against the Aggies, just as they did in the season opener in Nevada. This time SMC allowed just five points in the fourth quarter while scoring 13 of their own to close out the win against an Aggies team ranked as the No. 9 mid-major in the nation according to the preseason CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major poll.
 
The game-winning basket came on a Taycee Wedin three pointer from the top of the key. After getting her defender to stumble backwards with a crossover dribble, Wedin raised up from the top of the arc and drained a step-back jumper to put the Gaels up by two for good.
 
Saint Mary's started the game shooting well and finished the first quarter up 18-11 after going 4 of 9 from downtown and outrebounding the Aggies 15-7.
 
But in the second quarter it was UC Davis that heated up from deep as they went 3-7 from three-point range and went on an 8-0 run in the first two minutes of the second quarter to take a 19-18 lead with 8:55 to go in the second. It became a back-and-forth affair from there and the teams were tied at 27 apiece at the half.
 
In the third quarter the Gaels struggled to score from the field going 3 of 12 overall. However, Wedin was 2 of 2 on three pointers and Ali Bamberger and Brianna Simonich each hit a pair of free throws, and the Gaels continued to outrebound the Aggies to stay within six points going into the fourth.
 
From there the Gaels defense went into lock-down mode for the second-straight game, forcing six turnovers while committing just three of their own. They kept the Aggies to just two field goals on 10 shots in the final frame and got baskets from several players, as Wedin, Bamberger, Ellie Croco, and Aspen Garrison all scored.
 
Neither team led by more than six points at any time the game. Saint Mary's outrebounded UC Davis 42-27 and were led by Bamberger with 12 boards and Simonich with 10. Wedin finished with 17 points on 6 of 10 shooting, including 5 of 9 from three-point range and Bamberger rounded out her double-double with 12 points.

UP NEXT
The Gaels have one more road game before the home opener as they will play at Utah on Tuesday, November 16 at 6:00 p.m.

#GaelsRise — 2021-22 tickets and ticket packages are on sale now! To purchase tickets, click HERE. If you have questions, contact the ticket office by email smctickets@stmarys-ca.edu or call 925-631-4689…Saint Mary's Basketball…#TogetherAgain