SAN DIEGO – Returning home for the first time in the new year, the San Diego women's basketball team (4-10, 0-5 WCC) battled hard but ultimately fell short against the Pacific Tigers (6-9, 2-3 WCC) by a 72-66 final score from Jenny Craig Pavilion on Saturday afternoon. 

Truitt Reilly recorded her second double-double of the season as she posted 17 points and 11 rebounds against the Tigers on Saturday afternoon. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Getting the afternoon off to a strong start on the offensive side of the ball, Kylie Horstmeyer hit a pull up jump shot and was fouled to give the Toreros a 3-0 lead following the game's first possession. 
• It was a back-and-forth affair throughout the first quarter as Truitt Reilly put home a layup and Courtney Wristen made one herself that gave the Toreros a 15-12 advantage midway through the quarter.
• After Pacific had grabbed a late lead, Ava Ranson came through and knocked down a corner three-point shot to give San Diego an 18-17 lead at the end of the first quarter. 
• Looking to build on their early lead, the Toreros got a great spark off the bench from Malia Tharpe as she grabbed an offensive rebound and put it back to make it 20-17 USD.
• The Rhodes sisters then made their impact felt as Jayden Rhodes knocked down a pair of free throws and Hallie Rhodes contributed a layup of her own to make it 30-23 Toreros.
• Pacific would end the first half by scoring the last five points with San Diego heading to the locker room leading 30-28.
• Starting the third quarter with aggressive play, Ranson took control herself with a driving layup with her right hand to give the Toreros a four point advantage early in the second half.
• After Pacific regained the lead midway through the quarter, Wristen would deliver a pair of key free throws to get her team back within two points.
• Reilly began to heat up late in the second half as she made a jumper with one second left in the third quarter to bring USD within four points at 48-44 heading into the final quarter.
• The Tigers began the fourth quarter by opening up a 10 point advantage, but Lauren McCall hit a clutch corner three to get USD's deficit within single digits at 54-47. 
• Trailing late in the game, San Diego turned up the defensive intensity as they forced a pair of Pacific turnovers as Reilly made a pair of free throws and hit a turnaround jumper to make it a one point game with 55 seconds left in the contest.
• Pacific would hold on despite USD's best efforts as they picked up the 72-66 road victory on Saturday afternoon. 

TORERO TIDBITS

• Reilly did a great job in her 27 minutes of action by scoring 17 points and grabbing 11 boards as she made 7-of-8 free throws against Pacific. 
• Horstmeyer once again reached double figures in scoring as she totaled 10 points to go along with six rebounds as well as a pair of assists and steals on Saturday afternoon. 
• Playing heavy minutes and doing it all for her team, Ranson scored 10 points, dished out three assists and came away with a pair of steals against the Tigers. 

NEXT UP
San Diego will once again head back on the road as they will go to Los Angeles to face LMU on Thursday, Jan. 9 from Gersten Pavilion at 6:00 p.m. Live video and live statistics links can be found on the team's website.