Thursday, January 8
Stockton, CA
6:00 PM
Saint Mary's College of California
11-7,2-3WCC
60
at
55
Pacific
7-9,2-3WCC
1
2
3
4
F
Saint Mary's (CA)
11
16
10
23
60
Pacific
14
18
15
8
55
#5 Abigail Shoff: 29 MP, 12 pts., 8 reb. (season high), 3 stl., 5-11 FG vs. Pacific
WBB | Gaels Pull-Off 4th Quarter Comeback to Down Tigers 60-55
1/8/2026 8:29:00 PM | Women's Basketball
STOCKTON, Calif. – Saint Mary's erased a ten-point fourth quarter deficit to win their second conference game, 60-55 over the Pacific Tigers on Thursday night. The Gaels held the Tigers to just eight points on 21% shooting and started the quarter on an 8-0 run to cut the deficit to two points. They took their first lead since the opening quarter on a three-pointer from Abigail Shoff and then Malia Latu sliced through the lane for a turnaround jumper to help ice the game with 40 seconds remaining.
Emily Foy and Abigail Shoff finished with 12 points each to lead the way offensively while Georgia Grigoropoulou and Charlece Ohiaeri combined for 11 points off the bench. Saint Mary's had been crippled by some poor fourth quarter performances earlier in the season but were able to put together maybe their best ten minutes of basketball and erase a ten-point deficit to pull-off the win. The Gaels improved to 2-3 in conference play and recorded their eleventh win overall on the season.
FIRST HALF SMC 37-32 PAC
Saint Mary's held an early lead over Pacific after going up 4-0 and holding the Tigers scoreless over their first six shot attempts, including a pair of turnovers. Pacific rallied though and ended the quarter on a 5-0 run to take a three-point lead into the break. The Gaels shot just 38% from the field but forced six turnovers and were +6 in points off turnovers to be down just three.
Both teams picked up the scoring in the second quarter, but the Tigers cashed in on a pair of three-pointers to lead 32-27 at the half. Georgia Grigoropoulou was a much needed spark for Saint Mary's off the bench, scoring six points on a perfect 3-for-3 from the field. Abigail Shoff also got her midrange shot going, scoring all six of her points in the second quarter. Six second quarter turnovers didn't help the Gaels, but they forced five of their own for Pacific including one on their final offensive possession to maintain the five-point deficit.
Grigoropoulou and Shoff had six points each to lead the way along with seven other players finding the scoresheet. Pacific was +11 on the glass and had eight offensive rebounds but failed to record a second chance point. The difference in the first half came from beyond the arc as the Tigers hit three three-pointers while the Gaels were 0-for-5 from downtown.
FINAL SMC 60-55 PAC
Pacific grew their lead to as many as 12 points in the third quarter. Despite shooting just 27% from the field, the Tigers got to the line and were a perfect 8-for-8 from the stripe to finish the quarter with 15 points. Saint Mary's was just 4-for-9 from the field in the period but Emily Foy was able to get a layup to fall on their final offensive possession to cut the deficit to ten to start the fourth.
The Gaels knew they needed a near flawless quarter of basketball and that's exactly what they got as the started the fourth on an 8-0 run to make it a two-point game. Foy had four of those eight points and then Shoff cashed in on a trail three-pointer to give Saint Mary's a 51-50 lead for their first since the opening minutes of the game. The Tigers would snatch the lead back on the very next play with a layup but after a wise timeout from head coach Jeff Cammon, the Gaels would draw up a play and get a huge floater in the lane from Foy to retake a 53-52 lead with 2:32 remaining.
The Gaels would never surrender the lead after that point as Foy, Addi Wedin and Malia Latu combined for five made free throws over the final two minutes. Latu would help put the nail in the coffin with a crafty iso finish off a turnaround jumper, giving the Gaels a five-point lead with 38 seconds remaining.
It was a total team effort for the Gaels as eight different players had four or more points with ten finding the scoresheet. Saint Mary's turned the ball over just two times in the period to maximize their offensive possessions and were also +20 in point paints on the night, doing what they do best. After losing in the conference tournament to Pacific a season ago, Saint Mary's has now won three straight regular season meetings dating back to last year.
GAME NOTES
Saint Mary's will enjoy the rest of the week off and prep for Washington State as they host the Cougars on Thursday, January 15th at 6:30 PM. Tickets can be bought online at smcgaels.com/tickets and the game can be streamed live 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
Emily Foy and Abigail Shoff finished with 12 points each to lead the way offensively while Georgia Grigoropoulou and Charlece Ohiaeri combined for 11 points off the bench. Saint Mary's had been crippled by some poor fourth quarter performances earlier in the season but were able to put together maybe their best ten minutes of basketball and erase a ten-point deficit to pull-off the win. The Gaels improved to 2-3 in conference play and recorded their eleventh win overall on the season.
FIRST HALF SMC 37-32 PAC
Saint Mary's held an early lead over Pacific after going up 4-0 and holding the Tigers scoreless over their first six shot attempts, including a pair of turnovers. Pacific rallied though and ended the quarter on a 5-0 run to take a three-point lead into the break. The Gaels shot just 38% from the field but forced six turnovers and were +6 in points off turnovers to be down just three.
Both teams picked up the scoring in the second quarter, but the Tigers cashed in on a pair of three-pointers to lead 32-27 at the half. Georgia Grigoropoulou was a much needed spark for Saint Mary's off the bench, scoring six points on a perfect 3-for-3 from the field. Abigail Shoff also got her midrange shot going, scoring all six of her points in the second quarter. Six second quarter turnovers didn't help the Gaels, but they forced five of their own for Pacific including one on their final offensive possession to maintain the five-point deficit.
Grigoropoulou and Shoff had six points each to lead the way along with seven other players finding the scoresheet. Pacific was +11 on the glass and had eight offensive rebounds but failed to record a second chance point. The difference in the first half came from beyond the arc as the Tigers hit three three-pointers while the Gaels were 0-for-5 from downtown.
FINAL SMC 60-55 PAC
Pacific grew their lead to as many as 12 points in the third quarter. Despite shooting just 27% from the field, the Tigers got to the line and were a perfect 8-for-8 from the stripe to finish the quarter with 15 points. Saint Mary's was just 4-for-9 from the field in the period but Emily Foy was able to get a layup to fall on their final offensive possession to cut the deficit to ten to start the fourth.
The Gaels knew they needed a near flawless quarter of basketball and that's exactly what they got as the started the fourth on an 8-0 run to make it a two-point game. Foy had four of those eight points and then Shoff cashed in on a trail three-pointer to give Saint Mary's a 51-50 lead for their first since the opening minutes of the game. The Tigers would snatch the lead back on the very next play with a layup but after a wise timeout from head coach Jeff Cammon, the Gaels would draw up a play and get a huge floater in the lane from Foy to retake a 53-52 lead with 2:32 remaining.
The Gaels would never surrender the lead after that point as Foy, Addi Wedin and Malia Latu combined for five made free throws over the final two minutes. Latu would help put the nail in the coffin with a crafty iso finish off a turnaround jumper, giving the Gaels a five-point lead with 38 seconds remaining.
It was a total team effort for the Gaels as eight different players had four or more points with ten finding the scoresheet. Saint Mary's turned the ball over just two times in the period to maximize their offensive possessions and were also +20 in point paints on the night, doing what they do best. After losing in the conference tournament to Pacific a season ago, Saint Mary's has now won three straight regular season meetings dating back to last year.
GAME NOTES
- Saint Mary's erased 10-point fourth quarter deficit to win 60-55
- Finished the fourth quarter 57% from the field with eight made field goals
- Held Pacific to a game low eight points in the fourth, 3-for-14 from the field while forcing six turnovers
- For just the third time this season, Saint Mary's won a game despite being outrebounded by their opponent
- They also won just their second game after trailing at the half; was previously 1-3 before tonight
- Foy and Shoff combined for 24 points and Shoff grabbed a season high eight rebounds
- Malia Latu and Mauriana Hashemian-Orr combined for ten assists; Hashemian-Orr leads the team with 52 assists this season (2.88 APG)
- Saint Mary's forced 21 turnovers, the seventh time this season they've forced 20+ turnovers in a game
- Gaels outscored Tigers 17-9 in points off turnovers
- Malia Latu finished with a career high five steals
- Saint Mary's recorded 16 steals in the game, matching their season high against New Mexico State
Saint Mary's will enjoy the rest of the week off and prep for Washington State as they host the Cougars on Thursday, January 15th at 6:30 PM. Tickets can be bought online at smcgaels.com/tickets and the game can be streamed live 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
Team Stats
SMC
PAC
FG%
.481
.352
3FG%
.250
.250
FT%
.615
1.000
RB
29
35
TO
17
21
STL
16
11
Game Leaders
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
6
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG
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