Box Score
MORAGA, Calif. --- The Saint Mary’s Gaels built a 20-point lead at the half before cruising to a 75-58 win over the Portland Pilots in a West Coast Conference women’s basketball game played on Thursday night at McKeon Pavilion. Portland senior Natalie Day led all scorers with a game-high 17 points.
Day, Portland’s leading scorer and the second top scorer in the WCC, has scored in double figures every game this season.
But it wasn’t enough on this night as the Gaels were in control for most of the game. The Pilots were able to hang around early and led by three when Amy Pupa hit a lay-up six minutes into the game. Day also helped with a three and a lay-up as Portland found itself on top 11-8.
The UP lead was short-lived however as Jackie Nared gave the Gaels an 11-point lead moments later with a pair of free throws. The lead would stretch to 20, and the Gaels entered the half-time locker room with a 47-27 lead.
The Pilots would get no closer than 16 points during the second half.
Danielle Mauldin led four Gaels (17-8, 8-4 WCC) in double figures with 13 points as Saint Mary’s shot 53.3 percent from the floor. Morgan Hatten had 15 points and 10 boards for the double-double, helping the Gaels to a 39-28 edge on the boards.
Day was Portland’s (8-17, 1-10 WCC) top rebounder with five boards, and the Gaels held the Pilots to just 31.1 percent shooting. Cassandra Brown scored nine points for Portland, while Alexis Byrd and Kari Luttinen each added seven points.
The Pilots next head south for a WCC contest against the Loyola Marymount Lions in Los Angeles, Calif., on Saturday. Tip-off at Gersten Pavilion is set for 2 p.m.
