BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Center Ciara Pedroni had a game-high 14 points and added nine rebounds as Saint Martin’s University held The Evergreen State College scoreless for the first eight minutes and went on to a 53-45 victory in first-day action Friday at the 16th annual Western Washington University Lynda Goodrich Women’s Basketball Classic being held at Sam Carver Gymnasium on the WWU campus.
It was the second straight victory for the Saints, who also got 13 points from Brooke Paulson.
The game was a non-counting exhibition for Evergreen, which is 0-1 in official contests. Sadee Jones led the Geoducks with 12 points.
Saint Martin’s grabbed a 10-0 lead, with Pedroni scoring four of the first six points, as Evergreen didn’t reach the scoreboard until a Jessica Edge 3-pointer with 11:14 left in the first half. The Saints, who themselves experienced a scoreless drought of nearly seven minutes in the opening period, held a 21-17 lead at halftime.
The Geoducks scored the first six points of the second half to take a 22-21 lead, their only advantage of the contest, with 17:48 remaining. But the Saints responded with seven straight points, all by Paulson on a 3-pointer and two fast-break layins, regaining the lead, 28-22, with 16:18 left, and staying in front the rest of the way.
The Geoducks, which shot just 32.2 percent (15-of-46) from the field, pulled within three points on four occasions, but never got closer.
Saint Martin’s meets Carroll College MT at 12 noon in final-day play Saturday, and Evergreen plays host WWU at 7:30 p.m.
Story courtesy of Paul Madison, WWU Sports Information