Saturday, November 30
Moraga, CA
2:00 PM
Saint Mary's College of California
4-3,0-0WCC
41
vs
49
UC Riverside
3-5,0-0Big West
1
2
3
4
F
UC Riverside
20
12
8
9
49
Saint Mary's (CA)
9
4
8
20
41
#7 Edie Clarke: 11 MP, 2 pts., 2 reb., 1 stl.
Photo by: Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner
WBB | Gaels Storm Back Late in the Fourth but Fall 49-41 to UC Riverside
11/30/2024 5:22:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MORAGA, Calif. - Despite being down by as many as 19 points in the first half, the Gaels defense kept them in the game as they held Riverside to just 25% shooting on five made field goals in the second half. Back-to-back turnovers late in the fourth would help cut the deficit to eleven but there was simply not enough time on the clock as the Highlanders would knock down three free throws to seal the eight-point victory.
The scoring was spread out once again for the Gaels as ten different players recorded a bucket in the game. Kennedy Johnson led the team with nine points and five rebounds while Abigail Shoff and Ella Wedin combined for 15 points. Saint Mary's struggled from the field putting up a season low 41 points on 31% shooting.
FIRST HALF SMC 13-32 UCR
UC Riverside came to play as their defensive intensity helped spark a 20-4 scoring run to start the game, forcing seven turnovers during that stretch. Head coach Jeff Cammon and his squad showcased some zone defense early on and despite forcing some deep and well contested shots, the Highlanders connected on three early three pointers to help build a 16-point lead early in the first quarter. They would finish the first ten minutes of action shooting 46% from the field and 3-7 from beyond the arc. Emily Foy would bank in a three ball at the buzzer to cut the deficit to eleven after the first quarter.
Saint Mary's got back to their stout defensive identity and held Riverside to just 36% shooting in the second quarter, forcing six turnovers. They would only make two shots though in the second quarter and still found themselves down 19 at the half. Sasha Murphy and Melesungu Afeaki had the lone made field goals for the Gaels in the quarter as Murphy took on her former school, having been a part of the Highlanders program from 2022-24.
FINAL SMC 41-49 UCR
In the third, the shooting woes continued for Saint Mary's but they did knock down a pair of triples from Ella Wedin and Abigail Shoff. On the defensive side, they held Riverside to just eight points on 3-11 shooting. A 4-0 run from the Highlanders would push their lead back to 19 points to start the fourth quarter.
Ironically, Saint Mary's would match the scoring run from Riverside in the first quarter and outscore the Highlanders 20-9 over the final ten minutes of the game. The Gaels forced eight turnovers and scored eleven points off of those turnovers to cut the deficit to eleven. Back-to-back threes from Ella Wedin and Kennedy Johnson to start the quarter would get the crowd into the game and put the Highlanders on their heels.
Saint Mary's had their chance to get the game into single digits from the 7:00-5:00 minute mark as they got four consecutive defensive stops. They would have some great looks from beyond the arc but go 0-4 during that stretch, allowing the clock to continue ticking. The Gaels would generate some late drama forcing four turnovers in the final two minutes of the game to get some easy layups in transition. The lead would eventually get into single digits in the closing seconds but they would run out of time as UCR held on for the 49-41 victory.
After giving up 32 points and ten made field goals in the first half, Saint Mary's buckled down defensively and held the Highlanders to just 17 points on five made shots. The offense just never woke up for the Gaels as they recorded season lows in total points and field goal percentage, finishing the afternoon 31% from the field.
Johnson led the team in scoring with nine points and five rebounds while Shoff and Wedin combined for 15 points. Jeff Cammon went 13 deep and recorded a game high 20 bench points, but the Highlanders were aggressive on the drive all game long and converted 14 free throws compared to just six for Saint Mary's.
LOOKING AHEAD
Saint Mary's falls to 4-3 overall after seeing their two-game win streak come to an end against UC Riverside. The Gaels will remain in the Bay Area and take on San Jose State on Wednesday, December 4th. Live stats and ticket links can be found at smcgaels.com and you can stream the game live on the Mountain West Network.
Be sure to follow your Gaels on Facebook, Instagram, and X to get all the latest Saint Mary's athletics updates and information.
#GaelsRise
The scoring was spread out once again for the Gaels as ten different players recorded a bucket in the game. Kennedy Johnson led the team with nine points and five rebounds while Abigail Shoff and Ella Wedin combined for 15 points. Saint Mary's struggled from the field putting up a season low 41 points on 31% shooting.
FIRST HALF SMC 13-32 UCR
UC Riverside came to play as their defensive intensity helped spark a 20-4 scoring run to start the game, forcing seven turnovers during that stretch. Head coach Jeff Cammon and his squad showcased some zone defense early on and despite forcing some deep and well contested shots, the Highlanders connected on three early three pointers to help build a 16-point lead early in the first quarter. They would finish the first ten minutes of action shooting 46% from the field and 3-7 from beyond the arc. Emily Foy would bank in a three ball at the buzzer to cut the deficit to eleven after the first quarter.
END Q1 | SMC 9 - UCR 20
— Saint Mary's Women's Basketball (@GaelsWBB) November 30, 2024
Emily Foy banks a BEAUTIFUL half-court shot at the buzzer to end the first quarter 🔥#GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/7a8VBS9UgX
Saint Mary's got back to their stout defensive identity and held Riverside to just 36% shooting in the second quarter, forcing six turnovers. They would only make two shots though in the second quarter and still found themselves down 19 at the half. Sasha Murphy and Melesungu Afeaki had the lone made field goals for the Gaels in the quarter as Murphy took on her former school, having been a part of the Highlanders program from 2022-24.
FINAL SMC 41-49 UCR
In the third, the shooting woes continued for Saint Mary's but they did knock down a pair of triples from Ella Wedin and Abigail Shoff. On the defensive side, they held Riverside to just eight points on 3-11 shooting. A 4-0 run from the Highlanders would push their lead back to 19 points to start the fourth quarter.
Ironically, Saint Mary's would match the scoring run from Riverside in the first quarter and outscore the Highlanders 20-9 over the final ten minutes of the game. The Gaels forced eight turnovers and scored eleven points off of those turnovers to cut the deficit to eleven. Back-to-back threes from Ella Wedin and Kennedy Johnson to start the quarter would get the crowd into the game and put the Highlanders on their heels.
Back-to-back made threes from Ella Wedin and Kennedy Johnson ‼️#GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/iVM8UfTd3G
— Saint Mary's Women's Basketball (@GaelsWBB) November 30, 2024
Saint Mary's had their chance to get the game into single digits from the 7:00-5:00 minute mark as they got four consecutive defensive stops. They would have some great looks from beyond the arc but go 0-4 during that stretch, allowing the clock to continue ticking. The Gaels would generate some late drama forcing four turnovers in the final two minutes of the game to get some easy layups in transition. The lead would eventually get into single digits in the closing seconds but they would run out of time as UCR held on for the 49-41 victory.
Saint Mary's playing tough in the final two minutes of action as they pick up two steals and convert for points 🙌#GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/1uRByBAOVY
— Saint Mary's Women's Basketball (@GaelsWBB) November 30, 2024
After giving up 32 points and ten made field goals in the first half, Saint Mary's buckled down defensively and held the Highlanders to just 17 points on five made shots. The offense just never woke up for the Gaels as they recorded season lows in total points and field goal percentage, finishing the afternoon 31% from the field.
Johnson led the team in scoring with nine points and five rebounds while Shoff and Wedin combined for 15 points. Jeff Cammon went 13 deep and recorded a game high 20 bench points, but the Highlanders were aggressive on the drive all game long and converted 14 free throws compared to just six for Saint Mary's.
LOOKING AHEAD
Saint Mary's falls to 4-3 overall after seeing their two-game win streak come to an end against UC Riverside. The Gaels will remain in the Bay Area and take on San Jose State on Wednesday, December 4th. Live stats and ticket links can be found at smcgaels.com and you can stream the game live on the Mountain West Network.
Be sure to follow your Gaels on Facebook, Instagram, and X to get all the latest Saint Mary's athletics updates and information.
#GaelsRise
Team Stats
UCR
SMC
FG%
.341
.313
3FG%
.250
.357
FT%
.778
1.000
RB
36
27
TO
22
20
STL
17
9
Game Leaders
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
7
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
4
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
PF
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG
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