Stella Beck produced a career best 28 points as St Mary’s University Gaels came from behind to beat San Diego 77-65 on Sunday. The performance was even more meritorious given Beck had not only missed the previous two games due to concussion but also had to be removed from the starting five as she incurred a mouth injury in the warm up.
“I hit my teeth together which knocked the crown off my front tooth – the crown is from a WBC tournament I broke my tooth at a few years ago. But it was all good with my mouth guard in and it’s fixed now,” explained Beck speaking exclusively to the Lowdown.
“It was a very good win for us considering they beat us on the buzzer last time.” That loss was early in the West Coast Conference campaign and the Gaels have only lost two of the subsequent 10 games.
“It was a very satisfying career best, it wouldn’t have meant anything if we had lost so I’m glad we gathered the momentum when we did and carried it through until the end.
“We are on a bit of a roll, the chemistry is good and much improved. We have some tough games to close the season but it is a good time for us to be playing our best because it will give us the confidence we need to see it through,” the Tall Ferns guard added.
“Stella Beck is an incredibly tough kid,” said Saint Mary’s head coach Paul Thomas. “Having her being out for the last couple games, and then in warm-ups gets hit, and then performing like that. She was just a leader today. I think that’s awesome. We need that.”
The former Hutt Valley guard scored with 11 from 15 shots from the field and 6 from 9 free throws. She also garnered a team high 8 rebounds, as the Gaels remain second on the West Coast Conference ladder with a 9-3 record.
LACEY LOWDOWN 