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University of the Pacific

Elliott Deaton Celebration vs Cal Maritime
60
Winner Pacific UOP 9-5,1-0 WCC
57
Saint Mary's (CA) SMC 7-8,0-1 WCC
Winner
Pacific UOP
9-5,1-0 WCC
60
Final
57
Saint Mary's (CA) SMC
7-8,0-1 WCC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Pacific UOP 17 15 10 18 60
Saint Mary's (CA) SMC 7 22 19 9 57

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Late Fourth Quarter Comeback Leads Pacific to First WCC Win Over Saint Mary’s

MORAGA, Calif. – Pacific women's basketball starts West Coast Conference play 1-0 after a fourth quarter run led to a 60-57 nail-biting victory over Saint Mary's on Thursday at University Credit Union Pavilion.
 
Junior Elizabeth Elliott was two points short of matching her career high as she racked up a game-high 23 points, which marked her third 20+ point performance of the season. She also grabbed seven rebounds and notched four steals. Junior Anaya James finished with 11 points and a game-high six assists. She shot 3-of-5 from the three-point line.
 
Pacific (9-5, 1-0 WCC) had a 17-7 lead at the end of the first quarter. Saint Mary's (7-8, 0-1 WCC) trimmed the Tigers' lead to three at the start of the second after a 9-2 run, 19-16. Both teams traded baskets with 5:30 left. Pacific remained on top by six thanks to a three from senior Liz Smith. But the Gaels registered back-to-back buckets to inch closer within two at the 1:48 mark, 28-26. Elliott notched a layup in the paint with 56 seconds left. After a Saint Mary's three made it a one-point game, the Inglewood, Calif. native would add one more basket for a 32-29 halftime lead.
 
In the third quarter, the Tigers were held to .286 (4-14) from the field while the Gaels shot .615 (8-13). Saint Mary's took a 35-33 lead at 5:51. Redshirt senior Rosie Schweizer notched a layup to tie the game 23 seconds later. The Gaels went on an 11-3 run including three made threes to jump back up in front, 46-38. Elliott and graduate student Madelene Ennis contributed back-to-back baskets in the final 28 seconds. Saint Mary's had the 48-42 edge at the end of the third quarter.
 
Pacific opened the fourth with baskets from graduate student Cecilia Holmberg and senior Kadie Deaton to get within two, 48-46. Holmberg drained a three at the 3:46 mark that ignited a 10-2 run and the Tigers were back up by a score of 58-54.
 
The Gaels notched another three to come back within one. The big moment for Pacific came at 1:03 when Deaton dribbled the ball to the basket and scored as the shot clock expired, 60-57.
 
 Saint Mary's attempted to tie the game at the buzzer from the three-point line but missed and the Tigers came away with the win.
 
Pacific had a 32-26 advantage in the paint and registered 22 points off 21 turnovers by the host team.
 
The Tigers were .750 (6-8) from the free-throw line compared to the Gaels' .250 (1-4).
 
"It was not perfect, not necessarily pretty, but on the road sometimes you got to take those when you can," said head coach Bradley Davis. "Overall, I loved the toughness we had. I thought we battled and withstood the test."
 
Up next, Pacific plays Santa Clara at 2 p.m. on Saturday at the Leavey Center.
 
 NOTES
-Pacific wins its conference opener for the first time since 2020. The Tigers also played Saint Mary's that year where they came out with a 78-70 victory in overtime.
 
-It was the 44th meeting between Pacific and Saint Mary's. The Tigers now have 20 wins in the series against the Gaels.
 
-Pacific tied its season second-best mark with 12 steals during its comeback victory. The Tigers had that same number of steals at Long Beach State on Dec. 16, which was also a comeback win.
 
-Pacific is now 8-0 when leading at the half.
 
-With her 23 points, Elliott continues to lead the Tigers in scoring and increased her average to 15.4 per game.
 
Stay Social
For all the latest on Pacific Women's Basketball, be sure to follow the team on X (@Pacific_Hoops), Instagram (@pacificwbb) and "like" the team's official Facebook page (Pacific Women's Basketball).
 
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