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Santa Clara University

Women's Basketball

Bronco Comeback Falls Short in Alabama

Nov. 21, 2005

Box Score

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - For the Santa Clara women's basketball team, it was the second time in as many games that the outcome was decided in the final minute. The Broncos fought back from a ten-point halftime deficit to come within two before falling 77-71 to the Alabama Crimson Tide at Coleman Coliseum Monday night.

Junior guard Ashley Graham paced the Broncos (0-2) with 18 points off the bench, including four three-pointers. Michelle Cozad added 15 points and six rebounds while Kasey Monteith posted eight points and six boards in the paint for Santa Clara. Tracey Walker also scored in double-figures, netting 10 points and adding four assists.

Alabama (1-1) took a 41-31 lead into the locker room at the half as the Broncos shot only 33% from the floor on 11-of-33 shooting in the first 20 minutes. Early fouls also sent the Crimson Tide to the line 15 times in the first half, where they hit on 11 of their free throws to build the advantage.

Santa Clara began to heat up in the second half, hitting seven of their 12 treys on the night in the final 20 minutes. They crept ever closer to the Tide, but fouls continued to plague the Broncos, as both Monteith and Chandice Cronk fouled out in the second half.

The Tide made only 10 of their 19 attempts from the line in the second half to keep the door open for a Broncos comeback, and Santa Clara put together a run which culminated with SCU pulling to within two at 71-69 with ... left in the game, but that was as close as things got. Led by the efforts of forward Lauren Hill, who led all scorers with 20 points, and guard Marverly Nettles, who scored 17 on 7-for-8 shooting, Alabama regrouped in the final minute and closed the door on the Broncos.

Santa Clara returns home this week for their regular-season home opener Saturday as they host the Kansas State Wildcats in a 2 p.m. tip-off. The two-game homestand continues Monday night as the Broncos welcome Central Florida to the Leavey Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday. Tickets are available for both games by calling (408) 554-4660.

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