LACEY, Wash. – Everything seemed to be going Seattle Pacific's way.
 
Until the ball started getting away.
 
Up by 16 points late in the third quarter, the Falcons turned it over 10 times and shot just 2 of 16 from the field through the final 11½ minutes on Thursday night, as Saint Martin's came back for a 55-54 women's basketball victory in Marcus Pavilion.
 
Junior forward Ashley Alter and junior guard Rachel Berg each scored 10 points for SPU (4-4).
 
Except for an early 2-2 tie, Seattle Pacific had been in front all night, and often by double-digit margins. It was 21-9 at the end of the first quarter, 36-25 at halftime, and 48-37 heading into the fourth.

On two straight possessions midway through the third quarter, the Falcons came up with points just as the shot clock was about to expire. That was part of a 9-0 run that extended a 39-32 lead to 48-32 with 1:54 left in the third.

But thereafter, the Falcons were outscored 23-6 the rest of the way. That included a dry spell of 5 minutes, 12 seconds spanning the third and fourth periods as the Saints (3-3) rang up 10 straight points to get back into the game. 

Saint Martin's, when it wasn't pressing in the backcourt, would swarm all over whichever Falcon had the ball at the other end. In the fourth quarter, that factored into nine turnovers, which the Saints converted into eight points.
 
A coast-to-coast lay-in by Berg halted the 10-0 surge by Saint Martin's and increased SPU's lead to eight at 50-42 with 6:42 left in the game. A scoop lay-in by Claire Dingus for Saint Martin's made it 50-44, then SPU junior forward Natalie Hoff hit one of her two free throws at the 5:01  mark for a 51-44 advantage.
 
The Falcons then were kept off the scoreboard for the next four minutes. Saint Martin's finally tied it at 51-51 after Rian Clear stole the ball and fed Dingus for a lay-up at the 3:43 mark. A free throw by Mallory Vivola with 2:30 remaining gave the Saints a 52-51 lead.
 
Senior forward Ashlynn Burgess put Seattle Pacific back in front, 53-52, on a scoop lay-in at 56 seconds. A pair of Dingus free throws at 40.3 seconds gave the lead back to the Saints at 54-53. Another free throw, this one by Tierney DeDonatis, extended it to 55-53 with 20 seconds to go.
 
That still left the Falcons with plenty of time. Burgess got underneath for a scoop lay-in try that fell short. Hoff was there to grab the rebound and was fouled with 5.2 left. She hit the first, but the second one rolled off the rim. Burgess pulled down the offensive rebound on the left side of the lane, but was surrounded by two Saints. She flung one toward the hoop, but it flew over the rim. Alter caught it on the right side, but the buzzer sounded before she got off a shot.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
--SPU came out with some sharp shooting, hitting 8 of 14 during the first quarter while limiting Saint Martin's to 1 of 9. The Falcons wound up at 18 of 52 for the game (34.6 percent), while the Saints hit 17 of 51 (33.3 percent).
-- The Falcons had a 35-32 edge in rebounding. Ashlynn Burgess led the way with seven, to go along with nine points.
-- Tierney DeDonatis led Saint Martin's with 14 points. Claire Dingus, who had 53 points and 22 rebounds in two games at Northwest Nazarene last week, had 11 and 5 on Thursday.
 
UP NEXT
The Falcons and Saints meet again on Friday in Marcus Pavilion. Tip-off is at 6:00 p.m.
 
 
NCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021
Marcus Pavilion / Lacey, Wash.
 
Saint Martin's 55, Seattle Pacific 54
 
SEATTLE PACIFIC (4-4)
Berg 4-7 0-0 10, Rexach Roure 1-3 0-0 3, Brundidge 0-4 0-0 0, Boston 2-4 0-0 5, Alter 4-13 1-2 10, Hoff 1-6 7-10 9, Burgess 4-10 0-0 9, Mastora 2-5 2-2 8. Totals 18-52 10-14 54.
 
SAINT MARTIN'S (3-3)
Reed 1-3 1-2 3, Sutterlict 1-6 1-2 3, Dingus 4-11 3-6 11, Morris 1-5 4-4 6, Nelson 1-4 5-6 7, DeDonatis 5-10 3-4 14, Vivola 2-5 1-2 6, Clear 1-4 0-0 3, Budiman 1-3 0-1 2. Totals 17-51 17-25 54.
 
Seattle Pacific     21           15           12             6           -- 54
Saint Martin's        9           16           13           17           -- 55
 
3-point goals – SPU 8-22 (Berg 2-4, Rexach Roure 1-2, Boston 1-2, Alter 1-6, Burgess 1-5, Mastora 2-3), STM 4-15 (Reed 1-2, Sutterlict 0-2, Dingus 0-1, DeDonatis 1-5, Vivola 1-2, Clear 1-2, Budiman 0-1). Fouled out – SPU: Rexach Roure. Rebounds – SPU 35 (Burgess 7), STM 32 (Clear 6). Assists – SPU 10 (Berg 4), STM 6 (Clear 3). Turnovers – SPU 20, STM 15. Total fouls – SPU 20, STM 16. Technical fouls – SPU: Bench.
 
 
Next game
Seattle Pacific at Saint Martin's
Friday, Feb. 5     6:00 p.m.
Marcus Pavilion / Lacey, Wash.