Thursday, February 5
Moraga, CA
6:30 PM
Saint Mary's College of California
13-11,4-7WCC
69
vs
75
LMU
15-8,9-3WCC
1
2
3
4
F
LMU (CA)
23
14
23
15
75
Saint Mary's (CA)
21
9
15
24
69
#22 Melesungu Afeaki: 12 MP, 4 pts., 3 reb. vs. LMU
Photo by: Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner
WBB | 4th Quarter Comeback Nearly Complete as Saint Mary’s Falls to LMU
2/5/2026 9:45:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MORAGA, Calif. - Saint Mary's (13-11, 4-7) nearly erased a 20-point deficit Thursday night but ultimately fell to LMU (15-8, 9-3) 75-69 in their one and only meeting of the 2025-26 season. The Gaels turned up the defensive intensity in the fourth quarter, forcing twelve turnovers and outscoring the Lions 24-15, but LMU was able to milk out the clock and hit some late free throws to hang on for the six-point victory.
Junior transfer Charlece Ohiaeri made just her third start as a Gael and posted a season high eleven points on 4-5 shooting. Edie Clarke and Jada Hunter combined for twelve points as well in the starting lineup while junior forward Abigail Shoff went for a game high 18 points off the bench. Saint Mary's will look to even out the week on Saturday as they take on San Francisco at 2:00 PM.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Saint Mary's went toe-to-toe with LMU in the first quarter as both teams combined for 44 points in an offensive explosion. The Gaels were an efficient 57% from the field and even splashed a pair of three-pointers thanks to the Wedin sisters, one from Ella and one from Addi. A pair of free throws from Malia Latu to end the period cut the deficit to just two at the break.
Both offenses came back down to earth in the second quarter but late turnovers plagued the Gaels as LMU closed the first half on a 7-0 run to take a 37-30 lead into the half. The Lions forced seven turnovers in the period and Saint Mary's was just 4-for-10 in the quarter to finish with nine points. The bench continued their production though and kept them in the game as Saint Mary's outscored LMU 16-6 in bench points and were plus four on the glass.
LMU had their best shooting quarter in the third, shooting over 60% from the field and building up a lead of as many as twenty points. Their twenty point lead would come after a 14-0 run late in the third, giving them a 57-57 advantage. Once again though, the Gaels found a way to swing some momentum as Ella Wedin hit back-to-back three-pointers in the final minute to cut the deficit to fifteen heading into the fourth.
LMU had just eight turnovers in the game heading into the fourth but finished the contest with a game high twenty as the Gaels forced twelve in the fourth quarter to spark a late comeback. SMC scored fifteen points off turnovers in the fourth as Abigail Shoff helped lead the offensive surge for the Gaels, scoring twelve points in the fourth quarter to finish with a game high 18. The Gaels wound up winning the turnover battle and cut the Lions lead to as little as five points within the final minute, but it was just too little too late as LMU was a perfect 6-for-6 from the stripe to help ice the game and hang on for the six-point victory.
GAME NOTES
Saint Mary's falls to 13-11 overall and 4-7 in conference play after their 75-69 defeat to LMU. The Gaels will rally and head into the city Saturday afternoon to take on San Francisco at 2:00 PM. Tickets can be bought online 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
Junior transfer Charlece Ohiaeri made just her third start as a Gael and posted a season high eleven points on 4-5 shooting. Edie Clarke and Jada Hunter combined for twelve points as well in the starting lineup while junior forward Abigail Shoff went for a game high 18 points off the bench. Saint Mary's will look to even out the week on Saturday as they take on San Francisco at 2:00 PM.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Saint Mary's went toe-to-toe with LMU in the first quarter as both teams combined for 44 points in an offensive explosion. The Gaels were an efficient 57% from the field and even splashed a pair of three-pointers thanks to the Wedin sisters, one from Ella and one from Addi. A pair of free throws from Malia Latu to end the period cut the deficit to just two at the break.
Both offenses came back down to earth in the second quarter but late turnovers plagued the Gaels as LMU closed the first half on a 7-0 run to take a 37-30 lead into the half. The Lions forced seven turnovers in the period and Saint Mary's was just 4-for-10 in the quarter to finish with nine points. The bench continued their production though and kept them in the game as Saint Mary's outscored LMU 16-6 in bench points and were plus four on the glass.
LMU had their best shooting quarter in the third, shooting over 60% from the field and building up a lead of as many as twenty points. Their twenty point lead would come after a 14-0 run late in the third, giving them a 57-57 advantage. Once again though, the Gaels found a way to swing some momentum as Ella Wedin hit back-to-back three-pointers in the final minute to cut the deficit to fifteen heading into the fourth.
LMU had just eight turnovers in the game heading into the fourth but finished the contest with a game high twenty as the Gaels forced twelve in the fourth quarter to spark a late comeback. SMC scored fifteen points off turnovers in the fourth as Abigail Shoff helped lead the offensive surge for the Gaels, scoring twelve points in the fourth quarter to finish with a game high 18. The Gaels wound up winning the turnover battle and cut the Lions lead to as little as five points within the final minute, but it was just too little too late as LMU was a perfect 6-for-6 from the stripe to help ice the game and hang on for the six-point victory.
GAME NOTES
- Abigail Shoff matched her season high with 18 points, shooting 50% from the field and making seven free throws
- Charlece Ohiaeri came within one point of her career high, scoring 11 points on 4-5 shooting in her third start of the season
- Saint Mary's outscored LMU 35-19 in bench points thanks to 18 from Shoff, six from Mauriana Hashemian-Orr and eight points from Malia Latu
- The Gaels lead the WCC and rank 27th in all of Division I averaging 26.6 bench points per game
- Saint Mary's recorded a season high 17 steals, Shoff led the way matching her career high with four while Amy Kurkowski had a career high three steals on the night
- The Gaels are back over ten steals per game to rank second in the WCC
Saint Mary's falls to 13-11 overall and 4-7 in conference play after their 75-69 defeat to LMU. The Gaels will rally and head into the city Saturday afternoon to take on San Francisco at 2:00 PM. Tickets can be bought online 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
LMU
SMC
FG%
.500
.460
3FG%
.316
.316
FT%
.882
.680
RB
29
27
TO
20
18
STL
9
17
Game Leaders
Pts
18
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
7
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
8
FGM
1
3FGM
0
FTM
6
Players Mentioned
PF
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG
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