MALIBU, Calif. — Wrapping up their weekend trip in Southern California, Saint Mary's Women's Basketball hit the Firestone Fieldhouse for a day game against Pepperdine. Coming off a win on Thursday night against LMU, the Gaels were riding high with some momentum after snapping their six-game skid. Their performance was a bit flat on Saturday, however, putting up just 42 points in a 62-42 defeat at the hands of the Waves. Saint Mary's is now 6-17 (4-13) while the Waves up their mark to 5-15 (2-14).
 
COLD WATER
It must have been something in the ocean air in Malibu, as the Gaels could not find ways to get the ball through the rim in early going. Saint Mary's scored just four points in the first quarter, and during one 11-minute stretch, the Gaels were outscored 23-2. Part of that had to do with a lackluster shooting performance from beyond the arc, where the Gaels had been so good as of late. Saint Mary's went just 4-24 as a team from three-point land, with Taycee Wedin hitting three of those.
 
ROTATION
With the score in favor of the Waves early, it allowed head coach Paul Thomas to use a lot of rotation and not over-play anyone, leading to balanced minutes across the board. Wedin led the Gaels with 29 minutes, meaning no one played 30 or more in the contest. Six Gaels played at least 20 minutes, with nine overall seeing the floor for at least 14 minutes.
 
WEREN'T TOO BAD THEMSELVES
While the Gaels offense might not have been clicking, their defense was rock solid all afternoon long, holding the Waves to just 62 points and 39.6% shooting from the floor. Saint Mary's also forced 21 turnovers, with 13 of those coming via the steal, a season-best number from the Gaels defensively. Eight different Gaels had steals, with Brianna Simonich leading the way with four, and Madeline Holland and Tayla Dalton each swiping a pair.
 
AMONG OTHER NUMBERS
Wedin and Holland led the Gaels in points with 11 and 10 respectively…Amy West was the team's leading rebounder with seven, including a pair on the offensive glass…West and Ellie Croco were active passers on Saturday, each recording three assists…Saint Mary's was out-rebounded 46-34…three times this season the Gaels have turned it over fewer times than their opponent, and all three times, the Gaels have lost.
 
UP NEXT
Saint Mary's will have a chance to rest up with just one game on the schedule next week, their final game of the regular season. The Gaels head inland to take on the Pacific Tigers on Saturday, February 27 with a tip-off time of 2:00 pm on the Tigers senior day.
 
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