MORAGA, Calif. – A big third-quarter run was the difference as Saint Mary’s defeated Washington State 81-75 in a nonconference game Sunday.
WSU (0-2) lost its opener 91-76 at UC Davis on Friday.
Alexys Swedlund led the Cougars with 20 points on 7-for-13 shooting from the field and Borislava Hristova added 15 points.
Hristova’s layup with 2:11 left in the third quarter reduced the Gaels’ lead to 54-53, but Saint Mary’s responded by scoring the next seven points.
Swedlund made a three-point basket with 3:54 left in the game that made the score 77-73 in favor of Saint Mary’s, but both teams struggled the rest of the way — combining for six points.