ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Saint Martin's women's baseball team and Head Coach Natalie Marlowe may have just grabbed their signature win of the 2023-24 season. In a grind-it-out defensive battle, the Saints emerged victorious over regionally ranked Central Washington University, thanks to a last-minute bucket by Lauryn Morris, and a game-winning scooped layup shot from Anjel Galbraith.
 
The last time the Saints beat the Wildcats? January 2^nd, 2016.
 
Saint Martin's started off the game on the wrong note, allowing a 10-0 run from the Wildcats to finish the first quarter, where SMU would enter the second behind 19-6. Slowly but steadily the Saints would find a way to chip back in it, though. Leading with stellar defense that forced 20 turnovers from Central and had them shooting 15% in the second and 20% in the fourth, the Saints would outscore CWU in the final three quarters. Keeli Jade Smith would be a huge force behind the offense the Saints so desperately needed, including 15 total points.
 
After Kiana Rios pulled the game within two on a bucket with 2:40 to go, it was Smith that would tie things up with 45 seconds to go. Rios then got a steal and it was Lauryn Morris, who finished with 12, that cleaned things up and gave SMU their first lead of the game. The Wildcats would make both free throws on an ensuing foul, but, Galbraith, on her penultimate game as a Saint, would hit the dagger on a brilliant underhand scoop layup from the left side of the basket. Galbraith would finish with 10 points.
 
The Saints finish their season with a matchup in Nampa on Saturday. That game tips off at 4:15 PM Pacific.