MONMOUTH, Ore. - The Saints' offense struggled to find their shots in a 69-44 loss to Cal State San Bernardino to begin the 2017-18 season and the GNAC/PacWest Challenge, hosted by Western Oregon.
Elin Johansson and Saniah Simpson-Patu started the game off with baskets before Hannah Reynolds connected for a 3-pointer to give the Saints (0-1) an 8-2 lead. After a basket for the Coyotes (1-0), Shyler Sullivan connected beyond the arc to extend the Saints' lead to 11-4 with 4:11 left in the first quarter. In closing seconds of the quarter, Johansson knocked down a shot inside the paint to give Saint Martin's a 14-9 lead.
Cal State San Bernardino scored the first seven points of the quarter to take a 16-14 lead before Rebekah Baugh tied the game on a layup with 5:37 left in the half. After a made layup for the Coyotes on the following possession, Lauren Lindley worked in a layup to tie the game again at 18-18. The Coyotes broke open the score with 15 unanswered points as part of a 17-2 run to close out the half with CSUSB leading 35-20.
The Coyotes began the third quarter like the second, opening up on a 13-2 run. The Saints' offense connected on four shots throughout the quarter as they were outscored 26-10 and trailed 58-30 going into the final quarter.
Simpson-Patu led the Saints in the fourth quarter. scoring five of the Saints' seven unanswered points in the opening minutes. The Saints outscored the Coyotes 14-11 in the fourth: however, CSUSB limited the Saints to only seven second half field goals en route to the 69-44 victory.
"We played undisciplined defensively," said head coach
Christy Martin. "We were unable to keep the ball handler in front and we did a poor job of keeping their bigs off the glass. We lacked the heart that I know we have."
Johansson led the team with 12 points and nine rebounds while Simpson-Patu added 11 points and five boards. Reynolds, was the only other Saints to reach five more points, ending with six points.
"Offensively, we were tentative and failed to move the ball," Martin said. "We went over dribbles and went away from our offense. We need to work on using our teammates and sharing the ball. I'm confident in our players; we just need to get our team to be confident in each other and themselves."
As a team, Saint Martin's shot 14-for-52 (26.9 percent) from the floor and 2-for-8 (25.0 percent) beyond the arc. At the free throw line, SMU converted 14-of-27 (51.9 percent) attempts. The Saints committed 22 turnovers with six assists, seven steals and two blocks. SMU scored nine points off turnovers compared to 24 for CSUSB.
The Saints will stay in Monmouth for their next game against Dixie State on Sunday, Nov 12 at 12:00 p.m.
