By Dean Boerner | Editor-in-Chief
In their opening week, Saint Mary’s got the full Pac-12 experience as they battled Cal and then Washington State in their first two games of the new season. The Gaels dropped their season-opening contest to the Golden Bears 87-80 but found more luck against Washington State, defeating the Cougars 81-75 at McKeon Pavilion.
At Haas Pavilion on Friday night, it was the Gaels who got out to an early seven-point lead. A transition three-pointer and a layup by senior guard Stella Beck put Saint Mary’s up 16-9 midway through the first quarter.