LACEY, Wash. – Fueled by 20 point performances by both Saniah Simpson and Makenna, along with a historic debut by Claire Dingus at 10-points and 17-rebounds, the Saints managed to hold off the charging Lutes of Pacific Lutheran, 71-63, to open the season with a win.
 
Simpson and Schultz combined for nearly 30 points just halfway thru the second quarter, and the Saints held a commanding lead of 38-19. Lutes managed to storm back and pull within two on multiple occasions in the second half. Dingus grabbed nine offensive boards, and eight defensive to leads the Saints on the glass, while Megan Nilsson grabbed seven rebounds down the stretch to help secure the home opener victory.
 
The Saints could not have started the game on a hotter note, with Simpson and Schultz knocking down almost every shot. The two GNAC Preseason All-Conference selections, combined for 30 of the Saints' first 39 points in the first 15 minutes of the game. Saint Martin's lead grew to as many as 18 in the second quarter.
 
In the final five minutes of the first half, the Lutes stormed back, using a 14-2 run to close out the half. Pacific Lutheran fought their way back into the game, capitalizing on SMU turnovers, and knocking down shots from the outside. At the break, the Saints' lead had dropped to just six points.
 
Saint Martin's came out the break with some of their offensive rhythm back, with baskets by Rebekah Baugh and Dingus extending the lead back out to double-digits. However, when it looked like the Saints were on the verge of running away with the game once again, the Lutes managed to trim back into the lead. PLU was able to get the lead back down to six before the end of the third quarter.
 
In the final quarter, the Saints' lead shrank to as little as one point with 6:11 left to go in the game. A three-point play by Emma Kennedy, and a step-back 3-pointer by Simpson quickly stretched the lead back out to seven for SMU. In the final five minutes, Nilsson provided the Saints with what they needed in order to close out the game. She collected five points and three rebounds to help secure the 71-63 victory.
 
Simpson and Schultz both finished with a team of 20 points, while both also managed six rebounds apiece and combined for seven assists. Dingus managed to grab 17 rebounds over the course of her 39 minutes, along with 10 points and four steals. Kennedy added seven points, all in the second half, and three rebounds and three assists.
 
As a team, the Saints shot 24-for-66 (36.4 percent) from the field, 6-of-19 (31.6 percent) beyond the arc, and only 17-for-30 (56.7 percent) at the free throw line. SMU outrebounded the Lutes to a tune of 53-to-28, and scored 22 points in the paint, 16 off turnovers, and had 29 points from the bench.
 
The Saints next game is on the road in St. George, Utah against Colorado Mesa on November 16. The game is set to tip-off at 2:00 p.m. with live video and stats links available on smusaints.com.