MORAGA, Calif. – Saint Mary's Women's Basketball pulled away from Chico State in the second half for a 79-65 win in their final tune up before the regular season begins next week.
 
In the first half, the Gaels looked like a team still finding their rhythm in their first full exhibition game under their new coaching staff, but they would certainly find that rhythm in the third quarter.

Saint Mary's led just 36-34 at the half over the Division II Wildcats after leading by eight with 3:22 to go in the second quarter. They did shoot 53.6% from the field in the first half, but were 3 of 11 from three-point range, just 3 of 7 from the free-throw line, and had committed four more turnovers than Chico State.
 
The third quarter was a different story however, with the Gaels keeping the Wildcats to just 4 of 16 shooting from the field (25%), while going 8 of 18 themselves (44.4%) and out rebounding Chico State 16 to 9.
 
The Gaels came out of the third quarter media timeout and stretched their lead out to double digits for the first time on the night, going up by 11 points after an Addison Wedin three pointer.
 
The Wildcats trimmed it down to seven, but Maia Jones would get it back up to 10 with a lay-up in the lane and while drawing a foul with just 32 seconds left in the quarter. The Gaels would lead by double digits the rest of the way, never letting Chico State cut it under 11 points.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
The redshirt freshman Jones showed why she was such a coveted recruit for Saint Mary's, displaying her athletic ability on drives to the lane and defensively, along with her outside shooting touch. The New Zealand native finished with a game-high 22 points to go along with five rebounds, while shooting 7 of 13 from the field and 5 of 8 from deep.
 
Addison Wedin looked like more like the offensive force she was in high school as she's over now two years removed from a leg injury that led to her redshirting her freshman year at Saint Mary's. She filled in nicely into her older sister Taycee's former role with the Gaels as she scored 17 points on 7 of 10 shooting and 3 of 6 from beyond the arc.
 
Ali Bamberger finished with 15 points and five rebounds in her typical efficient fashion by going 7 for 11 from the field, and newcomer Emily Foy also finished in double digits scoring with 10 points on 5 of 9 shooting. Leia Hanafin had the game high in rebounds with seven, and Tayla Dalton was the Gael's assist leader with six.  
 
UP NEXT:
The Regular season begins next week when the Gaels travel to Phoenix to take on Grand Canyon University on November 6 at 3:00 p.m. Pacific Time.

Tickets for the 2023-24 Saint Mary's Women's Basketball season can be purchased by clicking here.

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