MORAGA, Calif. – Saint Mary's Women's Basketball (9-7, 3-2) played well against the Gonzaga Bulldogs (14-4, 5-0) on Saturday afternoon at UCU Pavilion, but the Zags pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 66-53 win, in a game whose final score doesn't reflect the battle it was.
 
THE GAELS WERE GAME
Though the Gaels hadn't led since late in the first quarter, they trailed by just one point at the end of the quarter and at the end of the half. They trailed by only three points to start the fourth, staying with the Zags until late in the game.
 
It looked like the Zags would assert themselves to start the third, but the Gaels would not allow the lead to get past six after a burst by the Bulldogs in the first minute. Ali Bamberger cut the lead right back to one with five straight points in the paint. The sophomore would cut the lead to one two more times in the third, as she scored all of the Gaels next 11 points to finish the quarter, making sure the Zags never led by more than three and by just one at the end of the quarter.
 
ZAGS 4TH QUARTER MOJO
Gonzaga didn't attain their double-digit lead until there were just six minutes left in the game, and the Gaels had it back under double digits as late as the last two and a half minutes remaining. But the Zags have had just enough in the fourth quarter this season, as that has been when they've pulled away from opponents in their undefeated conference run so far.
 
The Gaels led for the first seven minutes of the contest, extending their lead to as large as five after a Taycee Wedin three, with the Gaels going 3 of 8 (37.5%) from deep in the first. Gonzaga would take the lead with just under two minutes remaining in the first quarter, as both teams were even in turnovers, just as they would be in the game overall.
 
The Bulldogs just shot 10 percent better from three-point range. That along with the Zags winning the rebounding battle by 12 were the two difference makers in a game that was pretty evenly matched otherwise.
 
THE FINAL NUMBERS
Bamberger led all scorers with 22 points and tied for the team lead in rebounds at eight with Madeline Holland, who also scored in double figures with 13 points. Wedin hit two more three pointers which makes her just one three pointer away from tying the program record for career threes.
 
The Gaels are now 2-4 when they have a shooting percentage from the floor in the 30s and 1-6 when their opponent out shoots them, 2-6 when their opponent has the rebounding advantage.  
 
UP NEXT
The Gaels remain at home at they take on the University of San Francisco Dons on Thursday, January 27 at 6:30 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