BERKELEY, Calif. – The Saint Mary's Women's Basketball Team (6-5) battled with the Cal Bears (9-2) for a quarter and a half before the Bears pulled away for a 73-55 victory over the Gaels.
 
EARLY BATTLE
The Gaels defense started off locking down the Bears, forcing two missed shots just before the shot clock expired on their first two possessions. But even those opening stops were a harbinger for things to come in the first quarter for Saint Mary's, as the Bears grabbed the offensive boards after their misses three times in the first three minutes. But the Gaels would hang with the Bears through the first quarter of play and catch up in the rebounding department, trailing just 22-19 after the first.
 
STRUGGLES IN THE SECOND
Saint Mary's trailed just 26-24 with 4:42 remaining in the second quarter at the media timeout, but the Bears would cash in on the Gaels turnovers and cold shooting to go on a 9-1 run to finish the half up 35-25. The Gaels shot just 22% in the second and the Bears reclaimed the rebounding lead, out rebounding SMC 13-6 in the second, all while holding Saint Mary's to just six points in the quarter.
 
Cal did just enough to keep the Gaels at arm's length through the rest of the game, even though Saint Mary's made a run to trim the deficit to single digits after being down by 14 to start the fourth. After a pair of Madeline Holland free throws, the Gaels got back-to-back three pointers from Tayla Dalton and Ali Bamberger to cut it to eight at 56-48 with 7:31 remaining.
 
But the Bears would stretch the lead back to double digits for good taking a 64-49 lead into the last time out at 64-49 with just over six minutes remaining.
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Holland finished with 11 points and nine rebounds and Bamberger had 12 points with eight boards. Taycee Wedin hit two more three pointers, bringing her to needing just 14 more to tie the program record.

UP NEXT
Saint Mary's will begin conference play when they resume action on Thursday, December 30 at Santa Clara 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