By: Marilyn Anye (@AnyeMarilyn) – Spear Reporter – SJSU junior guard Rylei Waugh pushes through Saint Mary’s pressure and drives to the basket during the Spartans’ 58-53 loss on Thursday. (Photo by Mohammad Najimi – Spear photographer)
San Jose State’s women’s basketball team (0-7, 0-0 MW) fell short in a 58-53 loss to Saint Mary’s (6-4, 0-0 WCC) on Thursday despite a strong fourth-quarter push.
Saint Mary’s created separation with a decisive momentum swing in the second quarter, turning a close matchup into a multi-possession game. The Gaels took advantage of the Spartans’ defensive lapses and hesitation on offense, outscoring them 18–9 in the period.
SJSU struggled to match the energy and allowed many quick baskets during the run, which SJSU head coach Jonas Chatterton said “shifted the night.”
“There was a stretch in the second quarter where we did not do a good job defensively, and that’s the story of the game,” Chatterton said.
The Spartans battled back behind sophomore guard Maya Anderson and freshman forward Gabriela Pato, but the early gap forced them to play catch-up the rest of the night. Anderson finished with a game-high 18 points along with six rebounds.
Chatterton added that the team “got a little tired” during the run and struggled to settle back into its rhythm until the second half.
SJSU set the tone early as junior guard Allie Cummins knocked down four three-pointers in the first quarter as part of her season-high 14 points, sparking an 18–12 lead. Her 12-point surge marked the strongest offensive stretch of the night before the Gaels responded.
The Spartans made their strongest push in the fourth quarter, mounting a run that erased a nine-point deficit and shifted the momentum their way.
Anderson followed with a three that pushed the Spartans ahead during their surge.
Pato tied the game again with a fourth-quarter free throw as the Spartans continued to pressure the Gaels on both ends. Saint Mary’s responded with key shots in the closing moments, which limited SJSU to one point down the stretch to close out the game.
Pato also recorded her first collegiate double-double, with 10 points and 10 rebounds, helping anchor SJSU in the paint throughout the night.
Despite the loss, Chatterton emphasized how much progress SJSU has made over the past week and praised the group’s competitiveness and willingness to battle back.
“We keep getting better and better,” Chatterton said.
He also noted that the second-quarter lapse showed how costly a brief loss of discipline can be.
“We’ve got to be disciplined for 40 minutes, because when we lose our discipline, that’s what happens,” Chatterton said.
Anderson reiterated that message, stressing the importance of staying confident and aggressive on offense.
“I think just being confident and to keep shooting was the key,” Anderson said. “We just had to do what we practiced, and it was just to stay locked in.”
The Spartans will look to build on Thursday’s performance as they continue to chase a full 40-minute effort.
SJSU will face University of California, Berkeley at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley, Calif.
