MONMOUTH, Ore. – Trailing by one with just 24 seconds left, the Saints turned the game over to All-American Claire Dingus. With the game on the line, Dingus drove to the paint and pulled up for a game-winning jumper, as the Saints knocked off Chico State 55-54.
 
Extending their perfect start to 4-0 was not easy for the Saints, as SMU largest lead of the game was only six points. Dingus led the way with 21 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Dingus, along with Rian Clear, and Lauryn Morris, combined for 49 of the Saints' 55 points on the day.
 
Chico State (3-2) jumped out to an early 8-2 lead in the opening two minutes of the game. Baskets from Morris and Dingus quickly tied up the game. Both sides went back-and-forth with no shortage of offense, as Chico State led 19-18 after the first ten minutes.
 
The second quarter featured more close basketball as the Saints' and Wildcats' points never grew more than four points apart. Saint Martin's took a slight 31-29 lead into the locker room.
 
Saint Martin's led throughout all the third quarter, as a layup from Dingus put SMU on top by their largest margin of six entering the final quarter.
 
Chico State managed to work back into the game after being down eight, using an 11-2 run to regain a 50-49 lead with four minutes left. Saint Martin's defense locked in down the stretch, holding Chico to only four points in the last minutes, while baskets from Morris and Dingus sealed the victory.
 
The Saints next game is scheduled for Tuesday, November 23 at 3:30 PM against St. Mary's. Live stats and video will be available on smusaints.com.
 
A Look Into The Numbers:

• Clear finished with 16 points, five rebounds, three assists
• Morris added 12 points, and seven rebounds
• Saint Martin's outrebounded Chico 45-33
• The Saints shot 24-for-54 (44.4 percent) from the field
• Saint Martin's went without a 3-pointer all game (0-5)
• 42 of the Saints' 55 points came in the paint