MORAGA, Calif. -- San Diego (9-8, 3-3 WCC) took a 19-8 first quarter lead and never trailed from there on the way to a 72-54 win over St. Mary's (9-9, 4-3 WCC) on the road on Thursday night.
 
The Toreros were led by guards Jordyn Edwards and Myah Pace who collected 18 points each on the night. Edwards tacked on six rebounds and three steals, while Pace added four assists and two steals to her performance. The duo was also potent from beyond the arc shooting a collective 60 percent from three as San Diego made its most three-pointers so far in WCC play (7).
 
Senior Leticia Soares added to San Diego's offensive efforts reaching double figures with 12 points and three steals off the bench.
 
Led by Patricia Brossmann's four offensive rebounds, San Diego crashed the offensive glass well pulling down 13 boards that resulted in 12 second chance points.
 
San Diego's defense was potent in the contest forcing 26 St. Mary's turnovers. The Gaels didn't have much luck cleaning up their misses on the offensive glass either, as they finished with only seven offensive rebounds and managed eight second chance points while San Diego cleared 25 defensive rebounds.
 
After jumping out to a 7-5 advantage, the Toreros went on a 12-0 run with under five minutes left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Pace, to increase its lead to 19-5. San Diego entered the second with an eight-point advantage, doing most of its damage in the paint with 10 points coming near the basket.
 
The Toreros maintained their lead in the game's second frame and entered halftime with a 31-23 edge. San Diego dominated in the paint, scoring six of its 12 points close to the basket.
 
After halftime, San Diego continued to expand its advantage, pushing it to 42-32 before going on a 7-0 run to expand its lead further to 49-32 with four minutes to go in the third. Edwards led the offensive charge hitting three triples in the period, while Pace and Brossmann tacked on one a piece from beyond the arc. Five three-pointers in the quarter gave San Diego a 57-42 advantage headed into the fourth.
 
USD coasted to the win from there, increasing their margin of victory by outscoring the Gaels 15-12 in the fourth quarter. San Diego took advantage of its opportunities in the post, scoring eight of its 15 points in the paint.
 
The Toreros will finish their three-game road stretch on Saturday, when they'll take on Pacific at 2 p.m. (PT) in Stockton.
 
This article was created with the help of technology provided by Data Skrive.

NOTES
Virginia transfer Erica Martinsen collected her first minutes as a Torero in tonight's contest after receiving a waiver of eligibility from the NCAA, recording seven points on the night.

Myah Pace's offensive performance was only two shy of her career and season-high (20).

The seven three-pointers made by the Toreros were the most against a Division I opponent this season and the most in WCC play.