LAS VEGAS - On Thursday at Orleans Arena, No. 11 seed San Diego played like a team that refused to let its season end, knocking off No. 10 Saint Mary’s 66-62 in a tightly contested WCC Tournament game.
The results flipped a recent script. The only time these two teams met in conference play, USD fell 57-49. This time, when the game tightened late and every possession carried weight, the Toreros delivered.
Hallie Rhodes led the charge with 22 points, attacking off the dribble and hitting timely mid-range jumpers throughout the night. Kylie Ray added 19 points and 10 rebounds, stuffing the stat sheet and providing critical free throws in the closing minutes.
The numbers reflect just how competitive the game was. There were 13 lead changes and six ties, a game that never allowed either side to fully settle into the lead.
The Toreros built an early cushion, leading by as much as 13 in the second quarter, but Saint Mary’s responded in the third with interior scoring from Edie Clarke and Malia Latu. By the final five minutes, the margin hovered around a single possession.
That’s where USD’s composure showed.
The Toreros shot 50% in the fourth quarter and went 8 of 11 from the free throw line in the final period. In tournament basketball, those margins are often the difference between advancing and going home.
Saint Mary’s made one final push, trimming the lead to one with under two minutes remaining, but San Diego answered with defensive stops and free throws to seal the four-point victory.
For an 11-seed facing a team that had beaten them earlier in the season, it was both revenge and resilience wrapped into one performance.
What does the win mean?
The seeding said that Saint Mary’s had the edge.
Thursday said something different.
By knocking off the No. 10 seed while being in No. 11, San Diego not only extended its season but it shifted momentum heading into the second round, where the Toreros will face No. 7 seed San Francisco.
The next matchup carries its own weight. USD dropped both regular season meetings to USF – each by just four points. That context makes this win over Saint Mary’s even more significant.
USD faces No. 7 seed USF today at 2:30 p.m.. Watch on ESPN+. WCC Tournament Website
In a tournament setting, closing out a tight game builds belief. It proves the group can manage late possessions, defend without fouling and convert free throws when it matters most. Those details become amplified in March.
The Toreros now head into a second-round matchup not just as an underdog, but as a team that has already corrected one regular season loss.
And with those two four-point losses from USF still lingering, the opportunity for another correction awaits. Watch the game on ESPN+ today, Friday, at 2:30 p.m.
Cover Photo: Sophomore Kylie Ray during a game against USF earlier in the season. Thomas Christensen/USD Athletics
