MORAGA, Calif. – The Gaels were finally back home at UCU Pavilion for the first time since December 3, but lost a nail-biter to LMU 66-64 on Thursday night.
 
SMC and LMU were nearly statistically even in the final box score, with the one difference being a slight free throw advantage for the Lions, going 17 of 19 at the line compared to 11 of 14 for the Gaels.
 
The game was tied at 15-15 after the first quarter, but LMU won the second quarter 18-14, hitting three more free throws than Saint Mary's and forcing five steals. The Lions won the third quarter by one after hitting three more free throws and one more field goal in a game where the margin of victory or defeat was razor thin.
 
They would maintain a six-point lead over the Gaels for the first four-plus minutes of the fourth quarter, but back-to-back buckets by Tayla Dalton cut the deficit to two at 59-57 with just over three minutes remaining.
 
A three pointer from Taycee Wedin tied it at 62-62 with two minutes remaining before LMU took back the lead on a basket in the paint. But the Gaels missed a three and a pair of free throws in the final minute.
 
They would have to foul LMU and the Lions player hit both free throws, but committed a technical by giving a shove to Hannah Rapp after the foul. Wedin would hit both of those technical free throws to bring it back within two with nine seconds left.
 
LMU would block the Gaels next shot, but miss both free throws on the other end, giving the Gaels life after Leia Hanafin grabbed the rebound and called time out with 1.1 seconds left.
 
The Gaels got the inbound to Wedin to go for the win at the top of the key, but the LMU defense closed out well, forcing the WCC all-time leader in threes to sidestep the defender and reload and had the buzzer go off with the ball still on her fingertips on a shot that missed slightly to the left in the 66-64 loss.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
The Gaels got back to their more successful formula of at least three players scoring in double figures, with Dalton's 17 points leading the way on 7 of 12 shooting, followed by Wedin's 15 points on 5 of 11 shooting, including 3 of 8 shooting from downtown.
 
Ali Bamberger had 14 points and 10 rebounds with a career-high six assists. Rapp also pulled down 10 boards and Makena Mastora just missed scoring in double figures with eight points. Saint Mary's won the rebounding battle by five and had the same number of turnovers as LMU.
 
UP NEXT
Saint Mary's remains at home to take on Pepperdine at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 7.
 
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