STOCKTON, Calif. (Interstat) — Saint Mary’s used a dominant fourth quarter to edge Pacific 60-55 in a West Coast Conference women’s basketball game Thursday at A.C. Spanos Center. The Gaels, who trailed by five entering the final period, outscored the Tigers 23-8 in the fourth quarter to secure the victory. Saint Mary’s improved to 11-7 overall, while Pacific fell to 7-9. Winner Bartholomew led all scorers with 19 points for Pacific. Abigail Shoff and Emily Foy each scored 12 points for Saint Mary’s, which forced 21 turnovers. The Tigers shot just 35.2% from the field. Attendance was 382.

STOCKTON, Calif. (Interstat) — In a grinding West Coast Conference defensive battle defined by missed shots and forced turnovers, the Saint Mary’s Gaels used a dominant fourth-quarter surge to overcome a persistent deficit and defeat the Pacific Tigers 60-55 on Thursday night at the A.C. Spanos Center. The Gaels, who trailed by as many as nine points in the third quarter and entered the final period down 47-41, outscored the Tigers 23-8 over the final 10 minutes. The comeback was fueled by a decisive 15-2 run that spanned nearly six minutes, flipping a five-point Pacific lead into a commanding eight-point advantage for Saint Mary’s with just over two minutes to play. The most critical sequence of the game occurred early in the fourth quarter with Pacific clinging to a 50-47 lead. The Gaels’ defense, which forced 21 turnovers on the night, locked down. Over a span of five possessions, Saint Mary’s generated two steals and two defensive rebounds while holding the Tigers scoreless. On the offensive end, the Gaels executed with precision. Emily Foy hit a transition jumper, Edie Clarke converted a layup through contact and completed a three-point play, and Abigail Shoff buried a crucial three-pointer from the wing, assisted by Malia Latu. That 10-0 spurt gave Saint Mary’s a 57-50 lead with 4:14 remaining, a margin Pacific could not overcome. The game was a stark contrast in offensive styles and efficiency. Saint Mary’s dominated the interior, scoring 40 points in the paint compared to Pacific’s 20, and capitalized on Tiger mistakes, scoring 17 points off turnovers. Pacific, despite a significant 13-5 advantage in offensive rebounds, struggled mightily from the field, shooting just 35.2% overall and 25% from three-point range. The Tigers’ only consistent offensive threat was Winner Bartholomew, who finished with a game-high 19 points. Pacific’s perfect 11-for-11 performance at the free-throw line kept them in contention but could not offset their 21 giveaways. Saint Mary’s (11-7, 2-1 WCC) was led by a balanced attack. Emily Foy scored 12 points, all in the second half, while Abigail Shoff also added 12 points and a game-high four steals. The Gaels’ backcourt of Malia Latu and Mauriana Hashemian-Orr each contributed five assists, facilitating the offense against a disruptive Pacific defense. Edie Clarke anchored the interior with seven points, two blocks, and a key defensive presence. For Pacific (7-9, 1-2), Bartholomew’s 19-point effort on 8-of-17 shooting was supplemented by 11 points from Sophia Mindermann and eight points from Sydney Ward, who also blocked three shots. The Tigers’ defense was active, matching Saint Mary’s with 11 steals, but their offense could not sustain the momentum built in the first three quarters. The first half was a ragged affair, with both teams combining for 37 turnovers. Pacific led 14-11 after a low-scoring first quarter and extended their lead to 32-27 at halftime, largely on the strength of Bartholomew’s 13 first-half points. The Tigers maintained that lead through the third quarter, but the Gaels’ defensive pressure and interior scoring finally broke through in the final period. The victory marked a resilient road win for Saint Mary’s, which had lost four of its previous six games. Pacific, which had been projected as a slight favorite by advanced metrics, saw a two-game home winning streak snapped. Saint Mary’s returns home to face Washington State on Jan. 15. Pacific continues its homestand against Pepperdine on the same date.

STOCKTON, Calif. (Interstat) — The Saint Mary’s Gaels visit the Pacific Tigers on Thursday afternoon in a West Coast Conference women’s basketball matchup featuring teams heading in opposite directions. Saint Mary’s (10-7) arrives at the A.C. Spanos Center having won three of its last four, including a 57-49 road victory at San Diego on Sunday. The Gaels have relied on a balanced attack, with Emily Foy (10 points) and Jada Hunter (6 points, 3 rebounds) leading the way in that win. Hunter, a key player to watch for the Gaels, has been a steady contributor, averaging 4.3 points and 2.2 assists over her last six games. Pacific (7-8) looks to halt a two-game skid after a 74-53 loss at Portland on Sunday. The Tigers have shown offensive firepower at home, scoring 72 and 85 points in wins over San Diego and Seattle, respectively, late last month. The Tigers will lean on forward Sydney Ward, who is coming off a strong 13-point, 7-rebound performance against Portland. Over her last six games, Ward has averaged 10.7 points and 5.2 rebounds, providing a consistent interior presence. The game tips off at 7 p.m. PST on Jan. 8, 2026. Saint Mary’s holds the better overall record, but Pacific has demonstrated it can be a formidable opponent on its home floor. The matchup could hinge on whether the Gaels’ recent defensive form, which held San Diego to 49 points, can contain a Pacific team that averages 71.4 points per game in Stockton. This contest is the first of two regular-season meetings between the programs this season. They will meet again in Moraga on Feb. 12.