MORAGA, Calif.- Tyonna Outland and Melissa Sweat each scored 20 points apiece but the Bakersfield Roadrunners fell victim to a 42-11 free-throw differential in a 75-68 opening-round loss to Saint Mary's in the WNIT Friday night.

Bakersfield started the game on a 7-0 run and led 13-4 with just five minutes expired in the game.but the Gaels  (22-11) would go on a 14-1 run over the next seven minutes to take a five-point lead. Saint Mary's would build an eight-point lead in the half and take a five-point lead into the half.

The Roadrunners again started the second half of play much like the first half, outscoring Saint Mary's 11-4 in the first 3:17 of the half to retake the lead following three three-pointers from Dajy Vines and a pair of layups from Alyssa Shannon and Outland. The second half would see seven ties and four lead changes before Saint Mary's took the lead for good with 9:53 remaining following a Jackie Nared layup. Nared led Saint Mary's with 27 points on 8-of-15 shooting and 10-of-11 from the free-throw line.

Free throws proved to be the difference as the Gaels went to the line 39 times, converting on 29 of those attempts as Bakersfield was whistled for 26 personal fouls. The Roadrunners attempted just 11 free throws while the Gaels were called for just 13 fouls all game.

Outland's 20 points came on 9-of-23 from the field while Sweat's 20 was on 7-of-15 from the field in her final game as a Roadrunner.

~www.GoRunners.com~