Feb. 19, 2011

Box Score

MORAGA, Calif.- The University of San Diego women's basketball team lost to the Saint Mary's Gaels by a score of 77-69 on Saturday afternoon at McKeon Pavilion. The Toreros (14-12, 4-8 WCC) had three players score in double figures, but the Gaels' (17-10, 9-3 WCC) decisive edge in free throws proved to be the difference in the loss.

Saint Mary's went 29-37 (78.4%) from the free throw line on the afternoon, while the Toreros converted five of six free throw opportunities. Senior forward Emily Hatch led the Torero offense with 18 points and 11 rebounds, while senior guard Sam Child added 18 points as well, and senior center Nya Mason chipped in with 12 points and four rebounds.

The Gaels were paced offensively by Jasmine Smith's 31 points, which included 13-14 from the line. Saint Mary's also got 16 points and 10 rebounds from Louella Tomlinson, who added four blocks on the defensive end. Danielle Mauldin scored 11 points with eight rebounds for the Gaels as well.

USD got off to a hot start by opening the contest with a 13-2 run that lasted the first five minutes of the game. The Torero lead hovered around 10 until Smith knocked down a pair of free throws at 10:42 that set off a 10-0 Saint Mary's run over the ensuing three minutes, resulting in a 23-23 score and the first point in the game in which USD did not lead.

Mason hit a pair of free throws to break the Toreros' three-minute scoreless streak and give USD a 25-23 lead, but Smith answered with one of her two three-pointers on the day, putting Saint Mary's up a point at 26-25 at the 7:14 mark.

From there both teams wrestled the lead from one another until the Gaels closed out the half by scoring the final six points, giving them a 42-36 lead at the intermission.

Coming out in the second half, the Toreros immediately recaptured the lead with a five-point swing in the first four minutes of the half, which gave them a 43-42 lead at the 16:49 mark. However, Saint Mary's charged right back with a 6-0 run of their own that resulted in a 48-43 Gaels lead with 15:16 remaining in the game.

From that point Saint Mary's never relinquished the lead, despite the Toreros pulling to within one on a Conners jumpshot at 10:19. That would prove to be the closest USD would get as the Gaels closed out the win on their home court.

The Toreros struggled to knock down shots during the second half as they shot 33% (15-45) in the second half and 38% (30-79) for the game, including a 19% (4-21) mark from three-point range on the afternoon. Meanwhile, Saint Mary's put up a 51.2% (22-43) field goal percentage in the game and was 4-11 from beyond the arc (36.4%). USD did manage to force 20 Gael turnovers, compared to 12 from the Toreros.

USD travels to Portland for a 7:00 p.m. game on Thursday, Feb. 24th.