MORAGA, Calif. – Saint Mary's Women's Basketball put up a fight against the Gonzaga Bulldogs on Saturday afternoon, but the Zags pulled away each time the Gaels closed in an 82-57 loss for SMC.
 
The Gaels were down by 14 points early in the second quarter, before going on an 8-0 run. Ellie Croco hit her first three pointer of the season, followed by a wing three from Taycee Wedin, and then a step-back jumper from the Gaels' sharp shooter cut it to 33-27 Gonzaga with 3:31 to go in the first half.
 
But the Zags would push it back to 14 at halftime and wouldn't let the Gaels cut it any closer than 11 when Aspen Garrison scored inside just three minutes into the third.
 
A perfect pass from Clair Steele threaded the needle to Wedin to for a reverse layup to cut it to 57-44 with a minute to go in the quarter, but Gonzaga would hold SMC at arm's length and extend their lead up to 20 with 4:35 left to play.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Wedin had the best offensive game for the Gaels on 9 of 19 shooting overall and 3 for 10 from three-point range. Hannah Rapp had a game-high eight rebounds on the afternoon.
 
Gonzaga shot exactly 50% overall, including shooting over 60% in the first and fourth quarters.
 
UP NEXT:
Saint Mary's remains at home to host BYU as a WCC foe for the final time on Thursday, January 26 at 6:30 p.m.