Career night: WCC Newcomer of the Year Kennedy Johnson. Photo by Tod Fierner for SMC Athletics
Kennedy Johnson Has a Career Night for the Gaels, But Postseason Run Ends in the West Coast Conference Tournament at the Hands of Pacific
The WCC Newcomer of the Year records a double-double and career-best 15 rebounds. Zeryhia Aokuso puts up 10 points in the first half. And Maia Jones flips a switch for a run in the second half—but it’s not quite enough.
A gritty and hard-fought season for Saint Mary’s came to an end Saturday night as they fell to Pacific in the third round of the Credit Union 1 WCC Basketball Championship, 59–74. Maia Jones hit a flurry of three-pointers late in the fourth to give the Gaels a chance, but Pacific was dominant inside and on the glass, +20 in paint points, and benefiting from a big 21 points from Elizabeth Elliot.
Kennedy Johnson was marvelous in her final collegiate game, recording her second double-double of the season. Before fouling out, Johnson also grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds as she continued to give the Gaels life into the second half. Maia Jones led the Gaels’ scoring with 17 points, and Zeryhia Aokuso put up 10 points and was the team’s best offensive player in the first half.
Keeping Within Striking Distance
Pacific led by as many as six in the opening quarter, but the Gaels defense forced four turnovers to stay within striking distance. Layups from Emily Foy and Edie Clarke helped make it a three-point game heading into the second.
The Tigers stretched out their lead to seven a few times for the Tigers, but Emily Foy gave the Gaels offense life with a pair of three-pointers. Foy has been a thorn in the side of Pacific all season long; she combined for 33 points and eight made three-pointers in their previous two meetings.
In the closing seconds of the half, Aokuso went the length of the floor and converted a layup off a sweet hesitation move to put Saint Mary’s within four at the break. Aokuso led the team with 10 points as Saint Mary’s entered the half with the score 33–29 Pacific.
Flipping a Switch, But Not Enough
Saint Mary’s came out of the half and converted a layup from Johnson to make it a two-point game. The Tigers responded, though, with an 8–0 run along with two forced turnovers, to force a timeout from SMC Coach Jeff Cammon with the Gaels now trailing 39–31.
Both teams traded buckets, but a crucial turnover in the final seconds gave Pacific a fast-break layup to put them up nine and complete a quick 4–0 run. The Gaels shot just 23% from the field in the third quarter and had their work cut out for them heading into the fourth.
A 7–2 run pushed the lead to 14 for Pacific to start the fourth, and Saint Mary’s struggled to defend Elizabeth Elliott on the interior. The Tigers were also able to splash home a three-ball during that scoring run to extend their lead.
With under three to play, Maia Jones flipped a switch on and gave her team some late life with three three-pointers to cut the deficit to as little as eight. The Gaels sped up in transition, and Jones had great rhythm and tempo in her shots to jumpstart the team’s offense. But after Jones's run, Pacific took it to the paint and sealed the game at the free throw line. The Tigers were 5–5 from the stripe down the stretch, and a three-point play from Elliott clinched the 74–59 victory.
Kennedy Johnson fouled out late in the fourth but left every bit of fight she had out on the floor. Along with recording her second double-double of the season and those career-high 15 boards, Johnson had a tough and-one back in the third quarter to help keep it a five-point game heading into the fourth.
Jones, who earned WCC recognition as Newcomer of the Year, concluded her season on an offensive tear, averaging almost 20 points per game over the previous three games. Emily Foy came off the bench and did what the WCC Sixth Woman of the Year does, scoring 12 points to lead all bench scorers.
“We knew Pacific was gonna be a tough matchup, any time you play a team for a third time it's always gonna be tough,” said Gaels Head Coach Jeff Cammon after the game. “I’m just so proud of this group, fighting through all the ups and downs on and off the court throughout the season. I’m proud of the young women they’ve become through this journey.”
Pacific advanced to take on No. 3 seed Washington State on Sunday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. Saint Mary’s awaits potential NCAA postseason play in either the Women’s National Invitation Tournament or Women’s Basketball Invitational.
