MORAGA, Calif. – Saint Mary’s fell to Santa Clara 68-63 in a tightly contested West Coast Conference game on Saturday night. Despite holding the Broncos to 68 points—13 below their season average—the Gaels could not complete a late rally. This marked Saint Mary’s second consecutive loss of the season.
Game Highlights
The Gaels entered halftime with a narrow 35-34 lead. However, Santa Clara surged in the third quarter, scoring 25 points and establishing a 12-point lead. Despite a strong defense that limited the Broncos to just nine points in the fourth quarter, Saint Mary’s struggled to convert their opportunities.
Player Performances
- Jada Hunter: Matched her career-high with 15 points, plus three rebounds and three steals.
- Abigail Shoff: Contributed 14 points, shooting 50%, marking her third consecutive game with double-digit points.
- Malia Latu: Scored ten points and achieved a career-high nine rebounds against her former team.
This was only the second game this season where three players from Saint Mary’s scored in double figures. The team’s ability to maintain defensive pressure was evident as they are known for their perimeter defense, ranking best in the WCC.
Game Breakdown
Santa Clara started strong, leveraging their reputation as the conference’s best three-point shooting team. They quickly took a 20-12 lead but Saint Mary’s countered effectively. Key players like Addi Wedin sparked a scoring run, allowing the Gaels to take the lead into halftime.
| Quarter | Saint Mary’s Points | Santa Clara Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 | 20 |
| 2 | 23 | 14 |
| 3 | 15 | 25 |
| 4 | 16 | 9 |
Conclusion and Upcoming Game
Following the defeat, Saint Mary’s record has slipped to 11-9 overall and 2-5 in conference play. The Gaels dominated the paint, scoring 36 points compared to Santa Clara’s 26. However, the Broncos’ nine three-pointers and strong free-throw performance helped seal their victory.
Next, Saint Mary’s will host Pepperdine on January 22nd at 6:30 PM as they aim to bounce back from this loss. Fans can catch the game live on ESPN+ and purchase tickets online at smcgaels.com/tickets.
