SPOKANE, Wash. – The Saint Mary's Women's Basketball Team struggled with turnovers in an 85-49 loss to Gonzaga on Thursday night. The Gaels are now 12-13 overall and 6-8 in WCC play.
 
The trouble began for the Gaels with less than two minutes to go in the first quarter as things snowballed after the Zags took the lead for good on the night.
 
SMC looked good offensively early in the game getting buckets from Ali Bamberger, Madeline Holland, and freshman Makena Mastora. The Gaels had an advantage on the glass and had done well enough to take care of the ball early on. But after a Bamberger layup put the Gaels ahead 13-10 with 2:43 to go in the first, the Bulldogs went on a 7-0 run to finish the quarter up 17-10.
 
The Zags created separation in the second quarter by shooting 50% and winning the turnover battle by three. Gonzaga forced 16 Saint Mary's turnovers in the first half while committing just eight of their own and scoring 22 points off those Gaels turnovers.
 
That would be the story in the game as well with the Zags scoring 35 points off Gaels turnovers to just 14 points for SMC off Gonzaga's turnovers. The Bulldogs started the second half on a 12-0 run making the Gaels hopes of a second-half comeback difficult and extending their lead to 31 points by the end of the third.
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Mastora tied her career high with 12 points and Holland finished with 11. Bamberger ended up stuck on six points, but pulled down 10 rebounds for her ninth game with double-digit boards on the season.
 
UP NEXT
The Gaels will host University of San Diego on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. in UC Pavilion.

#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