LACEY, Wash. — The Saint Martin's Women's Basketball team notched its 11th GNAC win of the season at Marcus Pavilion on Saturday, February 14, defeating Western Oregon 60-51 to clinch a spot in the GNAC tournament.

A back-and-forth affair, the game saw the Saints take control with a massive fourth-quarter effort, closing out the win and notching the team's fifth consecutive victory. The win improved the Saints' record to 15-8 overall and 11-3 in GNAC play.

The teams honored Play4Kay, an initiative to raise awareness and funds for cancers affecting women.

How It Happened
First Quarter

• Despite a slow start shooting (2-11), the Saints ended the first quarter trailing just 10-8 in a closely-contested start to the game.
• An 8-5 lead by Western Oregon at the 3:05 mark was the largest lead of the quarter, before a three-pointer by Laiken Hill knotted the game at 8-8 with 1:56 on the clock.
• A layup by the Wolves on the ensuing possession put the Saints behind 10-8, a score that held through the end of the quarter.

Second Quarter

• The Saints picked up their offensive efforts in the second quarter, while limiting Western Oregon's production as well. Saint Martin's shot 46.2% and held Western Oregon to 28.6%
• Both teams exchanged baskets in the first half of the quarter, before a Madelyn Brown three-pointer at the 5:38 mark put the Saints up 17-15.
• Saint Martin's closed out the first half on an 8-2 run and took a 23-19 lead into halftime, with Karyss Lacanlale leading the way with six points.

Third Quarter

• Despite out shooting the Wolves the Saints were out-scored 16-11 by Western Oregon.
• A layup by Avery Oaster at the 5:02 mark put the Saints up 29-24.
• The Wolves responded with a 5-0 run that tied the game at 29-29 with 3:21 to go.
• Both teams exchanged the lead down the stretch, before a three-pointer by Salma Youngblood put Western Oregon up 35-34 heading into the final frame.

Fourth Quarter

• Saint Martin's took control of the game in the fourth quarter, out-scoring Western Oregon 26-16 and shooting 7-% from the field and 50% from long range.
• A three-pointer by Karyss Lacanlale at the 8:24 mark allowed Saint Martin's to retake the lead and go up 40-38.
• The game was tied 44-44 with just over six minutes to go, but Saint Martin's began to steadily pull away from this point on.
• A jumper by Kiana Rios put the Saints ahead 53-48, which was followed by a huge defensive effort down the stretch that ultimately put the game away.
• The Saints made consecutive defensive stops and converted their free-throws to pull ahead 57-48 with 1:17 left in regulation.
• The Wolves saw a late three-pointer, but the Saints held on to win 60-51. 

Top Performers

• Avery Oaster led the way with her fourth double-double of the season, tallying 14 points and 11 rebounds while shooting 6-12 (50%) from the field. She added three blocks, three steals, and two assists 
• Madelyn Brown scored a career-best 12 points and added three steals and two rebounds.
• Karyss Lacanlale totaled 13 points, three assists, two rebounds, and one steal.
• Jada Travis and Kiana Rios each tallied nine points. Travis added eight rebounds.

Team Stat of the Game
The Saints held a 33-24 advantage in team rebounding.

Up Next
The Saints will return to Marcus Pavilion on Feb. 19, hosting Northwest Nazarene at 5:15 p.m.