STOCKTON, Calif. – A cold-shooting night by the Gaels led to them trailing the Pacific Tigers the whole way in a 60-45 loss on Thursday night, despite trimming it to a four-point game in the third quarter.
 
Even with the slow start, SMC still only trailed by six points after a quarter of play. They were down just 10-7 when Addison Wedin suffered a leg injury while going up for a layup, and would not return. Wedin had scored in double figures in four of her last six games.  
Saint Mary's shot just 24% from the field in the first half to Pacific's 52% and found themselves down 30-17 at the break.
 
However, the Gaels would storm back in third quarter to cut it to just a four-point deficit at 30-26, hitting four of their first five shots of the second half while Pacific was 0 for 8. It looked like they had cut it to a two-point game on a Zeryhia Aokuo leaner right at the basket, but a questionable, late charge call on Aokuso negated her basket in the lane.
 
That would stop the bleeding for the Tigers and they would then hit a pair of threes on their next two possessions to push it back to a 36-26 game. But the Gaels hit their free throws in the later stages of the third and got the deficit back down to seven going into the fourth.
 
The shooting woes would strike SMC again though in the fourth, shooting just 2 for 11 in the final period, which allowed UOP to create some separation and get the 15-point win.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Saint Mary's finished the night shooting just 25% from the field and 3 of 18 (16.7%) on threes, while Pacific shot 43.6% overall and 8 of 14 (57.1%) from downtown. The Gaels did out rebound the Tigers 32-28, but lost the turnover battle 23-18.
 
Aokuso was the only Gael to score in double figures with 12 points. Ruby Vlahov led the team in rebounds with a career-high six boards.
 
UP NEXT:
SMC returns home to host Santa Clara at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 27.
 
#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.