Box Score LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Looking for their sixth consecutive victory and fifth straight over the Gaels, the Pacific women's basketball team (11-11, 9-9) was unable to overcome a rough second quarter offensively as Saint Mary's (7-18, 4-14) held off a late rally from the Tigers to advance to the quarterfinal round of the 2021 UCU West Coast Conference Tournament on Saturday afternoon.
 
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

• Getting the scoring started, senior Brooklyn McDavid netted the first points of the contest just 25 seconds into play, giving Pacific the early 2-0 lead.
• In what proved to be a back-and-forth opening quarter, the Tigers and Gaels would trade baskets through the remainder of the period, separated by just two points at the end of the first as Saint Mary's held a 21-19 advantage heading into the second.
• Arguably their worst quarter offensively of the season, Pacific came out flat to begin the second and would shoot only six percent overall from the floor as a team, scoring only three total points in the period.
• At the halftime break, Saint Mary's had found their rhythm and established a sizeable lead over Pacific, as the Tigers trailed the Gaels 41-22 at intermission.
• Turning the tides, UOP would begin to get the stops they needed out of the locker room, holding Saint Mary's to only nine points in the third quarter. Unfortunately, the Tigers could only muster 14 points themselves, as the Gaels still remained on top by double digits heading into the final period of play, 50-36.
• Aiming for some late game magic, Pacific opened the fourth on a 7-0 run to cut their deficit to just seven (50-43) on two free throws from redshirt senior Valerie Higgins at the 7:02 mark. However, this would be the closest the Tigers would get down the stretch.
• Fighting until the final whistle, Saint Mary's knocked down crucial shots in the final minutes of regulation to close out Pacific, 69-55. With the win, the Gaels advance to play #3 San Francisco on Saturday, Mar. 6 at 2:00 pm PST.

 
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:

• Closing out her career in her typical fashion, Higgins was named the Hardworking Player of the Game for the final time in the Orange & Black after tallying her 36^th double-double as a Tiger with 13 points, 13 rebounds, 7 steals and 2 assists.
• Playing her final minutes for Pacific as well, McDavid tallied double-digits in scoring (15 points) for the fifteenth time this season against the Gaels.
• Despite the loss, the Tigers led Saint Mary's in points in the paint (26-24), points off turnovers (18-14), second chance points (6-5) and fast break points (11-10).

 
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For more updates and more information on the 2020-21 Pacific women's basketball team, be sure to follow @Pacific_Hoops on Twitter, @pacificwbb on Instagram and @PacificWomensBasketball on Facebook.