Saturday, December 20
Moraga, CA
2:00 PM
Saint Mary's College of California
9-4,0-0WCC
70
vs
59
New Mexico State
3-8,0-0CUSA
1
2
3
4
F
New Mexico St.
14
12
15
18
59
Saint Mary's (CA)
14
19
17
20
70
#22 Melesungu Afeaki: 11 MP, 1 reb., 1 ast., 3-3 FG, 2-2 FT vs. New Mexico State
Photo by: Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner
WBB | Saint Mary’s Closes Out Non-Conference Play at 9-4 with 11-Point Win over New Mexico State
12/20/2025 5:51:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MORAGA, Calif. – Saint Mary's wrapped up non-conference play on Saturday, December 20th with a convincing win over New Mexico State, 70-59, improving to 9-4 overall. Their nine non-conference wins are the most since 2013 when the Gaels started WCC play with a 10-1 non-conference record. They went on to finish that season with 23 wins and a trip to the 2014 WNIT.
Leading the way offensively for the Gaels was junior forward Abigail Shoff who posted a season high 14 points on 50% shooting. Shoff splashed in a couple of three's and grabbed a team high six rebounds. Six players finished with seven or more points as Saint Mary's outscored New Mexico State 34-3 in bench points. Emily Foy and Mauriana Hashemian-Orr each finished with nine points while Melesungu Afeaki was a perfect 3-for-3 from the field good for eight points. Saint Mary's has now won four straight games and will take that win streak into Sunday, December 28th as they kickoff WCC action against Portland.
FIRST HALF SMC 33-26 NM STATE
New Mexico State came out and threw the first punch as they started the game on a 7-0 run to force an early timeout from head coach Jeff Cammon. After that point, the Gaels outscored the Aggies 14-7 to knot the game at the end of one. Guards Jada Hunter and Mauriana Hashemian-Orr combined for eight points off the bench as the Gaels attacked the Aggies inside, outscoring them 12-6 in the paint in the opening period. New Mexico State did not score a basket for the final five minutes of the quarter thanks to a stifling SMC defense that forced eight turnovers.
Saint Mary's shot just 41% from the field in the second quarter but hit three three-pointers to contribute to a 19-point second quarter. Ella Wedin gave the Gaels their first lead of the afternoon with a three ball to start the quarter and then Abigail Shoff hit two deep balls of her own including one with 28 seconds remaining to give Saint Mary's their largest lead of the game at nine points. The Aggies would convert a layup in the closing seconds to cut the deficit to seven, but Saint Mary's took control of the game, going on a 12-0 scoring run from the end of the first and into the second to take a 33-26 lead into the half. Shoff had eight points in the quarter to lead all scorers, and the Gaels had outscored the Aggies bench 16 zip.
FINAL SMC 70-59 NM STATE
Both teams had their worst shooting quarter in the third but Saint Mary's would head into the fourth with a nine-point lead. They hit three three-pointers again in the third to carry their scoring as Addi Wedin, Charlece Ohiaeri and Emily Foy knocked down shots from deep to give the Gaels six three-pointers on the night. In the fourth, Saint Mary's did a great job getting downhill and attacking the rim as they earned twelve free throw attempts in the fourth quarter. They went on to make eight of those attempts while also shooting 54% from the field.
Shoff continued her productive night to finish with a season high 14 points on 50% shooting while the bench continued to shine, outscoring the Aggies 34-3. Saint Mary's ranks 30th in the country in bench points with 29.2 per game. Hashemian-Orr led all bench players with nine points and three assists while Afeaki and Hunter combined for 16 points.
GAME NOTES
Saint Mary's improved to 9-4 overall after their 70-59 victory over New Mexico State. The Gaels will enjoy the holiday break and remain at home to open conference play on Sunday, December 28th to take on the Portland Pilots. Stream the game live on ESPN+ and tickets can be purchased online at smcgaels.com/tickets.
Be sure to follow your Gaels on Facebook, Instagram, and X to get all the latest Saint Mary's athletics updates and information.
#GaelsRise
Leading the way offensively for the Gaels was junior forward Abigail Shoff who posted a season high 14 points on 50% shooting. Shoff splashed in a couple of three's and grabbed a team high six rebounds. Six players finished with seven or more points as Saint Mary's outscored New Mexico State 34-3 in bench points. Emily Foy and Mauriana Hashemian-Orr each finished with nine points while Melesungu Afeaki was a perfect 3-for-3 from the field good for eight points. Saint Mary's has now won four straight games and will take that win streak into Sunday, December 28th as they kickoff WCC action against Portland.
FIRST HALF SMC 33-26 NM STATE
New Mexico State came out and threw the first punch as they started the game on a 7-0 run to force an early timeout from head coach Jeff Cammon. After that point, the Gaels outscored the Aggies 14-7 to knot the game at the end of one. Guards Jada Hunter and Mauriana Hashemian-Orr combined for eight points off the bench as the Gaels attacked the Aggies inside, outscoring them 12-6 in the paint in the opening period. New Mexico State did not score a basket for the final five minutes of the quarter thanks to a stifling SMC defense that forced eight turnovers.
Saint Mary's shot just 41% from the field in the second quarter but hit three three-pointers to contribute to a 19-point second quarter. Ella Wedin gave the Gaels their first lead of the afternoon with a three ball to start the quarter and then Abigail Shoff hit two deep balls of her own including one with 28 seconds remaining to give Saint Mary's their largest lead of the game at nine points. The Aggies would convert a layup in the closing seconds to cut the deficit to seven, but Saint Mary's took control of the game, going on a 12-0 scoring run from the end of the first and into the second to take a 33-26 lead into the half. Shoff had eight points in the quarter to lead all scorers, and the Gaels had outscored the Aggies bench 16 zip.
FINAL SMC 70-59 NM STATE
Both teams had their worst shooting quarter in the third but Saint Mary's would head into the fourth with a nine-point lead. They hit three three-pointers again in the third to carry their scoring as Addi Wedin, Charlece Ohiaeri and Emily Foy knocked down shots from deep to give the Gaels six three-pointers on the night. In the fourth, Saint Mary's did a great job getting downhill and attacking the rim as they earned twelve free throw attempts in the fourth quarter. They went on to make eight of those attempts while also shooting 54% from the field.
Shoff continued her productive night to finish with a season high 14 points on 50% shooting while the bench continued to shine, outscoring the Aggies 34-3. Saint Mary's ranks 30th in the country in bench points with 29.2 per game. Hashemian-Orr led all bench players with nine points and three assists while Afeaki and Hunter combined for 16 points.
GAME NOTES
- Saint Mary's outscored New Mexico State 34-3 in bench points, they rank 30th in Division I averaging 29.2 bench points per game
- Shoff finished with a season high 14 points
- Gaels are 7-1 when they equalize or outrebound opponent this season
- Forced a season high 27 turnovers
- Ninth time this season Gaels have held opponent under 60 points
- Four players finished with multiple steals on the night (Clarke, Hunter, Hashemian-Orr, Ohiaeri)
- Nine non-conference wins, most in a season since 2013 (10 non-conference wins)
- Four-game win streak, second longest of season after starting 5-0
Saint Mary's improved to 9-4 overall after their 70-59 victory over New Mexico State. The Gaels will enjoy the holiday break and remain at home to open conference play on Sunday, December 28th to take on the Portland Pilots. Stream the game live on ESPN+ and tickets can be purchased online at smcgaels.com/tickets.
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
NMSU
SMC
FG%
.543
.444
3FG%
.385
.316
FT%
.364
.615
RB
30
30
TO
27
19
STL
10
16
Game Leaders
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
8
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
PF
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballWBB | Jeff Cammon Postgame vs. New Mexico State 12-20-25
Saturday, December 20
WBB | Saint Mary's vs. New Mexico State Highlights, 12-20-25
Saturday, December 20
WBB | Postgame Interview vs. Fresno State 12/10/25
Wednesday, December 10
WBB | Saint Mary's vs. Fresno State Game Highlights 12/10/25
Wednesday, December 10
