MORAGA, Calif. - Saint Mary's Women's Basketball are staying local as they head to Stockton for take on Pacific Thursday and will be back at the UCU Pavilion in Moraga for their match up on Saturday against Santa Clara.
The Gaels will be facing Pacific for the second time this season, looking to break their three game losing streak to the Tigers. In their last matchup earlier this season, UOP defeated SMC by three points by outshooting Saint Mary's in the fourth quarter.
Saint Mary's have a 46-32 all-time record against the Broncos. The Gaels have a four game game win streak against Santa Clara and are looking to push the streak to five. In their previous match up last season
Taycee Wedin led the team with 23 points and Ali Bamburger followed with 21 points.
THE DETAILS
Saint Mary's (9-10) vs Pacific (12-7)
Thursday, January 25 at 6:30 p.m.
UCU Pavilion – Moraga, Calif.
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Saint Mary's (9-10) vs Santa Clara (15-5)
Saturday, January 27 at 1:00 p.m.
UCU Pavilion – Moraga, Calif.
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TICKETS
THE LAST TIMEOUT
The Gaels defeated last season's WCC Tournament Champs with a 73-67 overtime win against Portland, giving them their second WCC loss of the season. The game was canceled earlier in the week and rescheduled due to a series of winter storms in the Pacific Northwest.
The Freshman Zaryhia Aokusa got off to a hot start with six of the Gaels first eight points of the game. The whole Saint Mary's Team continued to drop points in the first quarter, going 8 of 11 on the floor and leading 18-16 after the first.
The second quarter was a bit rough for both teams, Gaels going 5 of 12 and committing seven turnovers where Portland was 3 of 15, committing four turnovers. The Pilots outshot the Gaels in the second causing SMC to trail by two going into the half.
The Gaels were able to battle through a back-and-fourth third quarter, trailing by three going into the fourth. With just 2:10 to go in the game,
Tayla Dalton tied the game with a layup. Portland quickly gained the lead again, but Bamburger was able to tie it with a pair of free throws. Once again Portland took the lead, but Aokuso hit a floater in the lane with 25 seconds left. The Gaels made a huge stop at the buzzer, avoided committing a foul, and pushed the game into overtime.
The Pilots had a 49-31 advantage in rebounds in the game, with 25 offensive rebounds alone. In overtime, Bamberger grabbed the most important rebound of the game, preventing Portland from getting a second chance. Bamberger created the perfect set for
Hannah Rapp for a three pointer, allowing the Gaels to a 68-66 lead. Rapp and
Leia Hanafin were able to grab two more rebounds for the Gaels and Dalton sealed the biggest win of the season for Saint Mary's with two free throws.
ABOUT PACIFIC
This past week, Pacific's Graduate Student Cecilia Holmberg was selected as the University Credit Union West Coast Conference Player of the Week for the first time in her career. This is the Tigers' second player to be named to this award for the 2023-2024 season. Holmberg is the third leading scorer with 214 points behind Anaya James in second with 232, and Elizabeth Elliot with 253 in first. Over the past few games, UOP have had multiple Tigers reach double digit points in a single game. Pacific is currently on a two win game streak by defeating San Diego and Pepperdine.
ABOUT SANTA CLARA
Only a Sophomore, Tess Heal has earned WCC Player of the Week for the third time just this season, two times being back-to-back. The guard scored 30 points in their conference opening over Pacific and leads the Broncos in points with 360 for the season. She surpasses her teammates in assists with 84 and is third in steals with 18. Not only does she have 3 WCC awards under her belt, she was also named one of 15 players on the 2024 Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Midseason Watch List. Santa Clara is looking to extend their win streak to three as they face No. 17 Gonzaga Thursday evening.
#GaelsRise – 2023-24 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.
