Thursday, February 12
Moraga, CA
6:30 PM
Saint Mary's College of California
14-12,5-8WCC
53
vs
56
Pacific
10-14,5-8WCC
1
2
3
4
F
Pacific
12
17
14
13
56
Saint Mary's (CA)
8
17
16
12
53
#5 Abigail Shoff: 28 MP, 19 pts. (ties career high), 5 reb., 2 ast., 1 stl.
Photo by: Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner
WBB | Shoff Ties Career High with 19 Points but Pacific Holds on Late for 56-53 Victory
2/12/2026 9:35:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MORAGA, Calif. - Saint Mary's and Pacific put together another gritty battle Thursday night as the Tigers held on late for the 56-53 victory inside UCU Pavilion. The Tigers surrendered a 10-point fourth quarter lead in their first matchup back in January, but on Thursday they led for 35 minutes and fought off a late fourth quarter surge from Saint Mary's to earn the victory.
Abigail Shoff continued her double-digit scoring streak, matching her career high from last season with 19 points. Jada Hunter and Malia Latu combined for 20 points on the night as the two other double-digit scorers for the Gaels. Saint Mary's will remain at home to finish the week and host Seattle U on Saturday, February 14th at 2:00 PM.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After shooting just 33% in the first quarter, Saint Mary's put together a solid 17-point second quarter, shooting 42% from the field and a perfect 5-for-5 from the free throw line. Jada Hunter scored six of the team's eight points in the opening quarter and Abigail Shoff was able to get to the free throw line and go 4-for-4 in the second quarter.
Junior transfer Charlece Ohiaeri converted a clutch and-one with less than a second remaining in the second quarter, and, after knocking down the free throw, made it a four-point game at the break. Pacific did force ten turnovers in the first half and outscored Saint Mary's 10-6 in that category as they never trailed going into the break.
Saint Mary's came out in the second half and shot 50% from the field in the third quarter to get themselves right back in the game. Including the made layup from Ohiaeri to end the first half, the Gaels completed an 8-0 scoring run to start the third, thanks to their first three of the game from Ella Wedin and a jumper from Hunter. The Gaels held Pacific to just 26% from the field and 1-for-7 from three-point range for their worst shooting quarter of the game. A score from Malia Latu and a stop defensively made it a 43-41 game heading into the fourth.
Both teams traded blows during the fourth as Abigail Shoff hit a pair of shots throughout the period to tie the game on two separate occasions. Pacific's guard Daria Nestorov hit a big three with 3:25 remaining to put Pacific up 52-49 but Latu would answer with a solo 4-0 run including a transition layup to put the Gaels up 53-52. Pacific continued to find ways to answer all night long though as Winner Bartholomew scored a layup inside on the very next possession to retake the lead. The Tigers clamped down defensively and after hitting two more free throws to make it a three-point game, Shoff saw her game-tying three-point attempt come up short off the front rim as time expired to seal the 56-53 victory for the Tigers.
GAME NOTES
Saint Mary's falls to 14-12 overall and 5-8 in conference play after their 56-53 defeat to Pacific Thursday night. The Gaels will remain in Moraga and welcome Seattle U to wrap up their regular season series with the Redhawks. Tip-off is slated for 2:00 PM and tickets can be bought 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
Abigail Shoff continued her double-digit scoring streak, matching her career high from last season with 19 points. Jada Hunter and Malia Latu combined for 20 points on the night as the two other double-digit scorers for the Gaels. Saint Mary's will remain at home to finish the week and host Seattle U on Saturday, February 14th at 2:00 PM.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After shooting just 33% in the first quarter, Saint Mary's put together a solid 17-point second quarter, shooting 42% from the field and a perfect 5-for-5 from the free throw line. Jada Hunter scored six of the team's eight points in the opening quarter and Abigail Shoff was able to get to the free throw line and go 4-for-4 in the second quarter.
Junior transfer Charlece Ohiaeri converted a clutch and-one with less than a second remaining in the second quarter, and, after knocking down the free throw, made it a four-point game at the break. Pacific did force ten turnovers in the first half and outscored Saint Mary's 10-6 in that category as they never trailed going into the break.
Saint Mary's came out in the second half and shot 50% from the field in the third quarter to get themselves right back in the game. Including the made layup from Ohiaeri to end the first half, the Gaels completed an 8-0 scoring run to start the third, thanks to their first three of the game from Ella Wedin and a jumper from Hunter. The Gaels held Pacific to just 26% from the field and 1-for-7 from three-point range for their worst shooting quarter of the game. A score from Malia Latu and a stop defensively made it a 43-41 game heading into the fourth.
Both teams traded blows during the fourth as Abigail Shoff hit a pair of shots throughout the period to tie the game on two separate occasions. Pacific's guard Daria Nestorov hit a big three with 3:25 remaining to put Pacific up 52-49 but Latu would answer with a solo 4-0 run including a transition layup to put the Gaels up 53-52. Pacific continued to find ways to answer all night long though as Winner Bartholomew scored a layup inside on the very next possession to retake the lead. The Tigers clamped down defensively and after hitting two more free throws to make it a three-point game, Shoff saw her game-tying three-point attempt come up short off the front rim as time expired to seal the 56-53 victory for the Tigers.
GAME NOTES
- Abigail Shoff tied her career high with 19 points; her fifth straight game in double-figures
- Malia Latu and Melesungu Afeaki combined for all 12 bench points for Saint Mary's
- Jada Hunter added three more steals to her season total, leading the team with 54 good for 2.2 per game and ranking 2nd in the WCC
- Saint Mary's recorded their 14th game this season with 10+ steals; averaging 10.2 per game for 2nd in the WCC
- Charlece Ohiaeri made her third consecutive start, finishing with five points and three rebounds
- The Gaels shot 81% (9-11) from the free throw line, the 10th time this season they've shot 80% or better from the stripe in a game
- Both meetings this season between Pacific and Saint Mary's have been decided by five points or fewer
Saint Mary's falls to 14-12 overall and 5-8 in conference play after their 56-53 defeat to Pacific Thursday night. The Gaels will remain in Moraga and welcome Seattle U to wrap up their regular season series with the Redhawks. Tip-off is slated for 2:00 PM and tickets can be bought 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
PAC
SMC
FG%
.351
.375
3FG%
.259
.133
FT%
.750
.818
RB
37
37
TO
17
18
STL
13
11
Game Leaders
Pts
19
FGM
7
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
10
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
5
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
PF
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG
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