Coming Up – Western Oregon (November 30, Monmouth, Oregon, 7:00 p.m.), Concordia (December 2, Portland, Oregon, 2:00 p.m.).
COMPLETE MEDIA GUIDE
Live Stats/Live Video – Live Stats and Live Video of both of SMU's Basketball Games will be available with links found on smusaints.com. Live stats and video will be produced by the Host School.
Social Media – Follow the Saints on Twitter (@Saints_WBB) and follow SMU Athletics on Facebook (Saint Martin's Saints), Twitter (SMUAthletics), Instagram (saints_athletics) and YouTube (SMU Athletics).
Ticket Information - SMU students get in free to all SMU home games with a valid student ID card and tickets are available for only six dollars. Seniors/Military/Non-SMU Students get in for four dollars. Children under the age of 11 get in free. Tickets can be purchased at the door or by calling
Abbey Bergquist at 360-438-4305.
Saints Handle Biola In Home Opener – Behind Elin Johansson's new career-high 22 points and 12 rebounds, and Saniah Simpson-Patu's 16-points, the Saints extended their win-streak to three games with a 69-59 victory over Biola University inside Marcus Pavilion. Biola (1-2) attacked the offensive boards to trim a Saints' (3-2) 16-point fourth quarter lead to one possession; however, SMU held Biola without a field goal in the final 2:36 to pull away and secure the double-digit victory
SMU Splits At Lydia Goodrich Classic – Behind dominating performances from Elin Johansson, Jayla Russ and Saniah Simpson-Patu, the Saints extended their win streak to four after defeating Academy of Art 82-61 at the Lynda Goodrich Classic, hosted by Western Washington. Two game defining runs by the Saints (19-2 and 17-4), along with a new career-high for Johansson at 27 points set the tone in the blowout victory. A 16-2 second half run by No. 20 Valdosta State proved to be enough to hold the Saints' fourth quarter comeback attempt, 89-73, to conclude the 2017 Lynda Goodrich Classic, hosted by Western Washington. The Saints (4-3) chipped away at the Trailblazers (4-1) lead in the fourth quarter, narrowing it down to 12; however, Valdosta State held on for the victory.
Johansson Named To All-Tournament Team – Johansson was named to the All-Tournament team after averaging 24.5 points per game, 6.5 rebounds per game, 1.5 blocks per game and shot 59.5 percent from the field.
Big Week Lifts Johansson To Top Of Leaderboard – Over the course of three games, Johansson scored 22 points, 27 points and 22 points (23.7 ppg), to increase her season average to 19.0 ppg. She now leads the conference in scoring over Preseason Player of the Year Alisha Breen from Montana State Billings (18.4 ppg), and ranks 42nd in the NCAA D-II. Johansson also ranks fifth in field goal percentage (53.6) and eighth in rebounding (7.9).
Saints Four Game Win Streak – The Saints racked up a four game win streak, the first since the end of the 2013-14 season. All four of the Saints' win came by 10 points or more, also the first time since the 2013-14 season.
Simpson-Patu Among Best Freshman In Conference – Entering the week averaging 12.7 ppg, 6.6 rpg, and 2.7 orpg, Simpson-Patu has proven to be one of the most impactful freshman in the conference. She leads all freshman in the GNAC in scoring, rebounding, both offensive and defensive, second in free throw percentage (.652), and blocked shots per game (.60).
Hot Start, Strong Finish – The Saints have controlled the game from the first quarter, outscoring their opponents 130-to-112. The final 10 minutes have been dominated by SMU, outscoring their opponents 149-to-114.
Western Oregon Preview – The Wolves will put their perfect 4-0 record on the line against the Saints on Thursday. Western Oregon's resume includes wins over Dixie State, Cal State San Bernardino and Notre Dame de Namur. Shelby Snook leads an offense with five players scoring double-digits or more per game. Snook's 14.0 ppg, along with 5.5 rpg and 3.0 apg, make the senior guard a tough threat to stop. Sydney Azorr adds 11.3 ppg and a team leading eight steals while Keyonna Jones is third in scoring at 11.0 ppg. Maddy Pape (10.3 ppg, 6.0 rpg) and Savannah Heugly (10.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg) round out the major scoring options for Western Oregon. Their five leading scorers amount to 75.6 percent of the team's scoring. The Wolves are outscoring their opponents 74.0 to 61.0 while recording 46.2 rpg, and 10.8 apg on 15.0 turnovers per game. WOU is averaging 7.0 steals per contest and 4.0 blocks per game. Western Oregon is shooting 40.9 percent from the field, 31.4 percent beyond the arc, and 80.4 percent at the free throw line.
Concordia Preview – The Cavaliers carry a two-game win streak into their game against #11 Seattle Pacific before hosting Saint Martin's on Saturday. Leading the way is guard Danielle Hartzog at 13.5 ppg, 3.7 rpg and 3.0 apg, and double-double machine Bailey Cartwright (12.8 ppg, 10.0 rpg). Cartwright has recorded three double-doubles in the Cavaliers' six games. Kizzah Maltezo and Keesha Sarman add to Concordia's outside scoring at 9.3 and 8.3 ppg. Sarman ranks second in the conference at 5.7 apg and is second on the team in rebounding at 6.7 per game. Concordia has outscored their opponents 69.2 to 58.2 while collecting 40.8 rpg, 14.7 apg on 17.2 turnovers per game, 10.0 steals per game and 3.3 blocks per game. The Cavaliers are shooting 39.2 percent from the floor, 35.9 percent beyond the arc and 71.9 percent at the free throw line.
GNAC Recap – Entering the week, Western Washington currently sits atop the leaderboard with the lone win in conference over Simon Fraser. The Vikings are 4-3 overall. Four teams enter conference action with perfect resumes, including Alaska Anchorage at 6-0, followed by Montana State Billings and Seattle Pacific at 5-0 and 4-0 Western Oregon. Northwest Nazarene sits fifth at 4-1 with Concordia (4-2) and Saint Martin's (4-3) tied in wins. Rounding out the standings is Alaska (2-2), Central Washington (3-3) and Simon Fraser (4-3, 0-1).
