MALIBU, Calif. - The Saint Mary's Women's Basketball Team lost 70-65 in overtime at Pepperdine on Monday night, dropping them to 9-10 overall and 3-5 in WCC play. The game was a rescheduled contest against the Waves that was originally supposed to take place on New Year's Day, and concluded a stretch of three games in five days for SMC.
 
TRADING PUNCHES
The Gaels came out tough defensively in the first quarter, holding Pepperdine without a field goal for six minutes in the opening period, with Saint Mary's going on a 7-0 run in that time to jump out to an 11-3 lead. But the Waves finished the quarter on a 6-0 run of their own to make it an 11-9 game at the end of the quarter.
 
A game of runs in the first quarter turned into a back-and-forth affair in the second. The Gaels were just 1 of 6 from downtown in the first half but were 8 of 12 at the free-throw line and won the rebounding battle by four and trailed by just one point at the break.
 
The third quarter featured seven lead changes, even though the Gaels had a scoreless stretch of over three minutes in third and went 0 for 10 from the field in that time. But Taycee Wedin got a basket and a foul with 37 seconds left in the third and Madeline Holland scored on a strong drive to the lane as the quarter expired, and the Gaels led 42-39 heading into the fourth quarter.
 
NAIL BITER
The game was tied at 46-46 with 4:30 left to play when Makena Mastora hit a three pointer from the corner to break the tie. Later Holland hit a turnaround jumper to 51-48 with just over three minutes left to keep the Gaels up by three.
 
The Waves got three pointer that bounced off the back of the rim and went in to make it 53-51 Pepperdine, but Ali Bamberger answered with her first field goal of the game to make it 54-53 SMC. She then hit a three from the top of the key to give the Gaels a 57-55 lead with 38 seconds to play.
 
With the game tied and just 19.6 seconds left, Pepperdine fouled Tayla Dalton on the inbound, which took just one second off the clock. Dalton hit both free throws, but Pepperdine scored on a quick inbound play to tie the game again.
 
Because it was such a quick score by the Waves, there was still plenty of time left for the Gaels. Unfortunately, Dalton had a layup blocked with 2.7 seconds left and Jade Kirisome's ensuing inbound to Wedin went off of her hand. But the Gaels defended the Waves inbound at half court very well and Pepperdine couldn't catch it cleanly, as they didn't get off a shot to send the game to overtime.
 
The extra frame was certainly unique, as all 11 points the Waves scored in overtime came from the free throw line, while the Gaels couldn't get some good looks to go down, going just 2 for 10 from the field in OT. They were also without Bamberger who fouled out at the end of regulation, and Holland fouled out late in overtime with the Gaels down by just three.
 
Pepperdine shot just three free throws in the first half, but went 10 for 16 in the second half and 11 of 14 in overtime.
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Dalton finished with a team-high 16 points and four assists to go along with eight boards. Holland and Mastora each finish with 12 points, and Wedin had 10. Bamberger led all rebounders with 13. Wedin was unable to break the program's three-point record and remains at 268 career threes for a tie in the all-time career record at SMC.
 
Though the Gaels committed two less turnovers than the Waves, Pepperdine score twice as many points off of those turnovers than Saint Mary's did. Saint Mary's shot 29% overall to Pepperdine's 41%.
 
UP NEXT
The Gaels return home to take on Santa Clara University at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 3 at UCU Pavilion and celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day.

#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