The Lady Gaels lost to University High School by a dozen points, and Lady Gaels head coach Kerri Dressel will remind her team every time they come off the court about that early December game.

University is considered one of the best teams in the state, something that either this year or in the future that St. Mary’s would like to come close to attaining.

"They (University) are considered the best team of the state and that will come up all year long in terms of where we have to get to," said Dressel.

If the season opener is an indicator, the Lady Gaels, who were 18-8 last season, could be on their way to that.

The Gaels started out fast at Secaucus on Friday night and never looked back as St. Mary’s defeated Secaucus, 88-47, in a BCSL National battle between two of the teams that are considered to be the favorites in the division.

Almost a year ago at this same time, St. Mary’s led through the first half on the same floor in the opener, but fell apart in the second half as most of the same group of Lady Gaels would turnover the ball extensively.

This time though St. Mary‘s would not fall apart in the second half.

In the first half, the Gaels kept the game going as they led 29-11 after the first quarter and were ahead 47-26 heading into halftime.

The loss last season to Secaucus in the opener would turn out to be St. Mary’s only loss in the BCSL National last season as the Lady Gaels would return the favor last season with a win over Secaucus at home later that season. Both teams would share the National title.

Despite the traumatic loss to the Lady Patriots last season, the group of mainly young St. Mary’s players have mostly forgotten about it and Dressel did not bring it up before Friday’s game.

"It was exciting being our first game," said sophomore forward Martina Ellerbe (6-feet-2-inches), a third team All Bergen County player as a freshman, only remembers that the game was a loss. "I also remember that there was a lot of pressure."

But what a difference a year makes. "We have a lot more experience this season and everybody has come together," said Ellerbe who had 18 points and 19 rebounds in Friday‘s game. "We were pumped tonight. I think we have a lot of chemistry and we really came together as a team in the off-season."

For St. Mary’s this season it will be wall-to-wall basketball from full-court press to a full-court pushing up the ball on the offensive end. "This team is the most physically fit I have ever had," said Dressel, the long-time Gaels head coach. "They just go. We have a lot of speed. In the third quarter we will wear teams down and I think that is what we did with Secaucus."

And Ellerbe said that it was the team’s defense that set up St. Mary’s offense. "We wanted to put a lot of pressure on them and play good defense," said Ellerbe. "It’s good scoring, but defense wins games. I see us as pretty balanced and we have to play as a team."

Dressel said that the team was set for the tone of the game. "It was the pace of the game and we could not slow down," said Dressel. "If we did, they would have caught up."

In the win against the Patriots, five Lady Gaels scored in double figures including Ellerbe. Junior forward Afreyea Tolbert (5-9) also had 18 points, sophomore guard Shanice Hawkins (5-7) added 17 while senior forward Stephanie Spanarkel (5-7) and senior forward Lauren Zdanowicz (5-9) chipped in 13 and 10 points respectively.

Spanarkel and Ellerbe were first team All BCSL National last season while Tolbert and Hawkins were named to the second team All National. Zdanowicz was on the All National honorable mention team.

Sophomore Kiyana Dunston (5-7), one part of the twin package with sister, Kiara Dunston (5-7), added eight points in the victory over Secaucus.

While it was mainly the seven in the first few quarters, Dressel went to three other players off the bench in late third quarter and fourth quarter in sophomore Megan Bohan (5-9), sophomore Amy Cuccinelli (5-9) and sophomore Kiara Dunston.

The Gaels will be well tested this season. With not only playing in the ultra-competitive Joe Poli Tournament, but also taking on the likes of Holy Angels and other quality independents.