Into a double digit lead: A layup by Tayla Dalton helped set the Gaels on course for a big win. / Tod Fierner for SMC Athletics
Women’s Basketball Closes out Regular Season with Blowout of Pepperdine
A strong second half helps the Gaels top the Waves 69–48. The win guarantees the Gaels a sixth seed in the West Coast Conference Tournament.
Saint Mary's Women's Basketball closed out the regular season with a 69–48 win over Pepperdine by dominating the second half, guaranteeing themselves the sixth seed in next week's WCC Tournament.
The Gaels actually trailed by four at halftime, but won the second half 44–19. They shot 55.6% in the second half to the Waves’ 24% and forced Pepperdine into committing 13 turnovers—compared to three for the Gaels.
A Layup for the Lead
SMC shot 45.5% in the first half, but Pepperdine had a slight edge at 48%, were a plus-6 in rebounds, and had three more points off turnovers than the Gaels. But the Gaels began their run just a little over a minute into the third quarter, keeping the Waves scoreless for over three minutes. Saint Mary’s took the lead at 33–32 with 6:24 to go in the third when Zeryhia Aokuso stole the ball and raced to the basket for a layup, leading to Pepperdine calling a timeout.
Saint Mary's would never trail again, pushing their lead up to seven on a put back by Hannah Rapp, and they led by eight after three quarters. The Gaels’ ability to draw fouls and hit free throws played a big role in taking the lead; they shot 9 of 11 at the line in the third.
A Tayla Dalton layup gave the Gaels their first double-digit lead of the game, going up 48–38 on their opening possession of the fourth. After that, the Waves never got closer than within seven. An Aokuso jumper just inside the free-throw line made it 55-44 with 5:31 to go, and SMC carried a double-digit lead the rest of the way.
After a media time out, Saint Mary's really poured it on. Ruby Vlahov hit a three from the corner, followed by layups from Emily Foy and Vlahov. The Gaels expanded their lead to more than 20 points on another Aokuso jumper in the lane that made it 67-46 with exactly two minutes remaining.
Inside the Numbers
Four Gaels finished in double figures scoring: Tayla Dalton and Zeryhia Aokuso each had 15 points, Ruby Vlahov had 13, and Ali Bamberger finished with 11. Hannah Rapp led the club with six rebounds, and Dalton, Aokuso, and Bamberger each had four assists.
SMC forced 22 turnovers while committing just 10 of their own.
Up Next: WCC Tournament
With a No. 6 seed in the WCC Tournament in Las Vegas, Saint Mary's is currently slated to take on LMU on Friday, March 8. Tip off is at at 2:30 p.m. at the Orleans Arena.
READ MORE: This story as it appears at SMCGaels.com
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