SAN DIEGO – Continuing the team's home stretch, the San Diego women's basketball team (4-14, 0-9 WCC) battled hard before ultimately falling short to the Saint Mary's Gaels (11-7, 7-2 WCC) on Thursday evening at Jenny Craig Pavilion. 

Truitt Reilly scored a new career-high with 25 points against the Gaels as she made nine of the 12 shots she attempted on Thursday night. Dresha Moore also continued to show growth as she played 37 minutes and scored 12 points. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After Saint Mary's scored the first five points of the game, Moore go the Toreros' offense going with a layup following a strong feed from Ava Ranson to make it 5-2.
• With the Gaels looking to create some separation, Kylie Horstmeyer came through for her team with a baseline jumper to make it 14-8 Gaels midway through the quarter.
• The Toreros' final points of the quarter came on a nice turnaround shot from Hallie Rhodes as USD trailed 23-14 after the first 10 minutes of play.
• Moore continued her strong start as she scored the first points of the second quarter with a layup to get San Diego's deficit down to seven points.
• After SMC was able to build their lead up to 16 points, the Toreros responded with back-to-back layups from Reilly and Horstmeyer to get back within 11 points.
• Reilly came through once again by scoring USD's final basket of the first half with layup as the Toreros trailed 36-25 at the half.
• Coming out of the half, USD continued their momentum from the first half as Moore and Horstmeyer put home layups to get the lead down to seven points.
• Continuing their comeback, Reilly knocked down a turnaround jumper off a Gaels' turnover that made it a one point game at 40-39.
• Horstmeyer would go on to make a pair of free throws to give USD the lead, and Claire Gallagher delivered a huge three-point hit as the Toreros held a 48-44 lead heading into the final 10 minutes of play. 
• Saint Mary's scored the first five points of the quarter to regain the lead before Horstmeyer knocked down another jumper to help USD regain the lead at 50-49.
• After the Gaels once again built a five point advantage, Reilly knocked down a pair of free throws to get the score to 59-56 SMC.
• Saint Mary's was able to get control back of the game as they earned the 72-63 road victory on Thursday night.

TORERO TIDBITS

• Reilly had another career night on Thursday as she set a new career-high with 25 points on 9-of-11 from the field to go along with six rebounds, two assists and a steal.
• Playing every minute against the Gaels, Horstmeyer scored 19 points on 8-for-14 shooting while also grabbing three rebounds and coming away with a pair of steals.
• Doing a little bit of everything off the bench, Gallagher was a USD best +14 in her 18 minutes as she scored three points and contributed five assists against Saint Mary's. 

NEXT UP
San Diego will be back in action at home this weekend as they host San Francisco on Saturday, Jan. 25 at 2:00 p.m. from the Jenny Craig Pavilion. Saturday's matchup with the Dons will be the program's Alumni Appreciation Weekend as we welcome past Torero women's basketball players back home. Live video, live statistics and ticket links can be found on the team's website.