Kroner's Corner Season 2: Best Start in a Decade for Saint Mary's Women's Basketball
11/18/2025 4:12:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MORAGA, Calif. - Exhibit A in how the Saint Mary's women have put together their best start in a decade came in a 51-41 victory at UC Riverside on Friday night.
Head coach Jeff Cammon used 12 players – each of whom scored at least two points and none of whom scored in double digits. That ample use of the bench helped the Gaels force 23 turnovers as they held the Highlanders to 17-for-49 (34.7%) from the field, including 2-for-22 from beyond the arc.
Yes, the two D's – depth and defense – have sparked the Gaels to a 5-0 record, the first time since 2015 that they've opened the season with five straight wins.
"Our effort has been really good," Cammon said after the Gaels knocked off visiting Nevada 56-50 on Sunday afternoon. "Our execution needs to improve on the offensive end, but I love what we're doing on the defensive end – and we're not even (close to) where I think we can be ultimately."
Where the Gaels are defensively in mid-November is pretty darn good. No opponent has scored than the 50 the Wolf Pack mustered. The Gaels are forcing an average of 21.4 turnovers per game.
"The depth helps the defense in terms of how hard we play and the energy that we give on that end of the floor," Cammon said. "You have to be deep in order to play as hard as we want to play."
If there has been a star in the Gaels' ensemble cast for the first two weeks of the season, she would be 6-foot-4 sophomore Edie Clarke, and not merely because she's Saint Mary's leading scorer at 9.8 points per game.
The Australian plays at the front of Cammon's 1-3-1 trapping defense. With her long arms and excellent court awareness, Clarke puts a lot of pressure on opposing offenses. She has collected 21 steals, including 17 in the past three games.
"We definitely have a difference-maker" on defense, Cammon said of Clarke. "She is the catalyst for what we do on the defensive end of the floor. …
"She is a sweetheart, but she has a fiery, competitive edge to her."
Clarke said she takes a lot of satisfaction from playing defense "because that really turns into offense and it brings a lot of energy. And I just love getting the girls all hyped up and when we all do it together, it's really good and I feel like it makes us closer as a team."
Guard Malia Latu, forward Abigail Shoff and Clarke have started all five games. Guards Emily Foy (3), Jada Hunter (2) and Addi Wedin (2) and forwards Georgia Grigoropoulou (2) and Melesungu Afeaki (1) have started at least once.
And guards Mauriana Hashemian-Orr and Charlece Ohiaeri are averaging 19.2 and 17.8 minutes per game, respectively.
Though the Gaels are thriving on defense, their offense remains a work in progress. In its three games against Division I teams, Saint Mary's has not scored more than 56 points. Overall, the Gaels are hitting 41.4% from the floor, including 25.6% from beyond the arc. They're committing 17 turnovers per game; Cammon would like to see that number shrink to less than 10.
"We're still trying to figure out our roles" on offense, Cammon said. "When you're playing so many people, having different lineups, it's tough to find that chemistry sometimes.
"So, I think as a staff, we have to do a better job of continuing to put (the players) in position to have success on that end and make sure that they do have a rhythm and they do understand their roles."
College head coaches often will use their bench liberally in the first six weeks or so of the season, but once conference play begins, they'll trim their rotations to seven or eight players. Cammon wants to keep his rotation in double digits throughout the season.
"That's the goal," Cammon said. "Is it realistic? I think it's up to (the players) – and the more they show in practices and games that 'Hey, Coach, I can help us win basketball games,' I think it's going to be hard for me not to play (12).
"I believe that on any given night, all 12 can help this team win basketball games."
On Thursday morning, the Gaels will face their toughest opponent to date when they play at Cal in the Bears' annual "School Haas Rock" game. After opening the season with a 74-65 loss to Vanderbilt in Paris, Cal has won four straight, all at home.
Cammon said he and Cal head coach Charmin Smith are good friends. Cammon discussed what it will take for the Gaels to prevail against a Power 4-conference team.
"Keeping the ball out of the paint, rebounding and just matching the physicality and the toughness" of the Bears are keys, Cammon said. "If we match the physicality and the toughness, we rebound (and) we take care of the ball, we give ourselves a chance to win the basketball game."
If the Gaels do win Thursday, they'll own the program's best start since the 2013-14 team went 7-0.
Steve Kroner has covered Bay Area sports for more than four decades, mainly at KPIX-TV (Channel 5) and the San Francisco Chronicle. He is in his second season working as an analyst alongside Brian Brownfield on SMC's men's basketball telecasts on ESPN+.
Be sure to follow your Gaels on Facebook, Instagram, and X to get all the latest Saint Mary's athletics updates and information.
#GaelsRise
Head coach Jeff Cammon used 12 players – each of whom scored at least two points and none of whom scored in double digits. That ample use of the bench helped the Gaels force 23 turnovers as they held the Highlanders to 17-for-49 (34.7%) from the field, including 2-for-22 from beyond the arc.
Yes, the two D's – depth and defense – have sparked the Gaels to a 5-0 record, the first time since 2015 that they've opened the season with five straight wins.
"Our effort has been really good," Cammon said after the Gaels knocked off visiting Nevada 56-50 on Sunday afternoon. "Our execution needs to improve on the offensive end, but I love what we're doing on the defensive end – and we're not even (close to) where I think we can be ultimately."
Where the Gaels are defensively in mid-November is pretty darn good. No opponent has scored than the 50 the Wolf Pack mustered. The Gaels are forcing an average of 21.4 turnovers per game.
"The depth helps the defense in terms of how hard we play and the energy that we give on that end of the floor," Cammon said. "You have to be deep in order to play as hard as we want to play."
If there has been a star in the Gaels' ensemble cast for the first two weeks of the season, she would be 6-foot-4 sophomore Edie Clarke, and not merely because she's Saint Mary's leading scorer at 9.8 points per game.
The Australian plays at the front of Cammon's 1-3-1 trapping defense. With her long arms and excellent court awareness, Clarke puts a lot of pressure on opposing offenses. She has collected 21 steals, including 17 in the past three games.
"We definitely have a difference-maker" on defense, Cammon said of Clarke. "She is the catalyst for what we do on the defensive end of the floor. …
"She is a sweetheart, but she has a fiery, competitive edge to her."
Clarke said she takes a lot of satisfaction from playing defense "because that really turns into offense and it brings a lot of energy. And I just love getting the girls all hyped up and when we all do it together, it's really good and I feel like it makes us closer as a team."
Guard Malia Latu, forward Abigail Shoff and Clarke have started all five games. Guards Emily Foy (3), Jada Hunter (2) and Addi Wedin (2) and forwards Georgia Grigoropoulou (2) and Melesungu Afeaki (1) have started at least once.
And guards Mauriana Hashemian-Orr and Charlece Ohiaeri are averaging 19.2 and 17.8 minutes per game, respectively.
Though the Gaels are thriving on defense, their offense remains a work in progress. In its three games against Division I teams, Saint Mary's has not scored more than 56 points. Overall, the Gaels are hitting 41.4% from the floor, including 25.6% from beyond the arc. They're committing 17 turnovers per game; Cammon would like to see that number shrink to less than 10.
"We're still trying to figure out our roles" on offense, Cammon said. "When you're playing so many people, having different lineups, it's tough to find that chemistry sometimes.
"So, I think as a staff, we have to do a better job of continuing to put (the players) in position to have success on that end and make sure that they do have a rhythm and they do understand their roles."
College head coaches often will use their bench liberally in the first six weeks or so of the season, but once conference play begins, they'll trim their rotations to seven or eight players. Cammon wants to keep his rotation in double digits throughout the season.
"That's the goal," Cammon said. "Is it realistic? I think it's up to (the players) – and the more they show in practices and games that 'Hey, Coach, I can help us win basketball games,' I think it's going to be hard for me not to play (12).
"I believe that on any given night, all 12 can help this team win basketball games."
On Thursday morning, the Gaels will face their toughest opponent to date when they play at Cal in the Bears' annual "School Haas Rock" game. After opening the season with a 74-65 loss to Vanderbilt in Paris, Cal has won four straight, all at home.
Cammon said he and Cal head coach Charmin Smith are good friends. Cammon discussed what it will take for the Gaels to prevail against a Power 4-conference team.
"Keeping the ball out of the paint, rebounding and just matching the physicality and the toughness" of the Bears are keys, Cammon said. "If we match the physicality and the toughness, we rebound (and) we take care of the ball, we give ourselves a chance to win the basketball game."
If the Gaels do win Thursday, they'll own the program's best start since the 2013-14 team went 7-0.
Steve Kroner has covered Bay Area sports for more than four decades, mainly at KPIX-TV (Channel 5) and the San Francisco Chronicle. He is in his second season working as an analyst alongside Brian Brownfield on SMC's men's basketball telecasts on ESPN+.
Be sure to follow your Gaels on Facebook, Instagram, and X to get all the latest Saint Mary's athletics updates and information.
#GaelsRise
Players Mentioned
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