SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Stifling defense led Santa Clara women's basketball to another big win Tuesday night at home. The Broncos topped Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 75-54 in a game they never trailed and led by double-figures for almost the entire second half.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Santa Clara (5-1) got things going with an 8-0 run over the first three minutes before the Islanders (2-3) came back with seven in a row of their own and tied the game at the end of the first quarter.
• The second quarter started with eight in a row for Santa Clara, the final six by Tess Heal. Once again, the Islanders responded with a 6-0 run to make it close but 3-pointers from Heal and Ashley Hiraki closed out the half to stretch the lead to 27-19 at the break.
• After an even third, Jayde Cadee caught fire to start the fourth, connecting on three consecutive triples, and hit four in the period. Her 3-pointers along with a jumper from Marya Hudgins, got Santa Clara on top by 20 for the first time at 7:48 in the fourth.

 
NOTABLE NUMBERS:

•  The two teams were almost even from the field with Santa Clara shooting 42.1-percent (24-of-57) and Corpus Christi shooting 38.6-percent (22-of-57). The Broncos were 28.0-percent from downtown (7-of-28) with the Islanders going 23.5-percent (4-of-17). The difference came at the free throw line where Santa Clara was 20-of-22 and Corpus Christi was 6-of-13.
• The Broncos also cleaned up on the glass with a 43-30 advantage and 15-11 on the offensive end.
• Heal led all scorers with 17 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the field and added four assists as well. Cadee scored 12 and Hiraki finished with 11. Olivia Pollerd just missed a double-double with nine points and eight rebounds while also adding five assists. Hudgins had a game-high 10 boards.
• Torie Sevier was the lone Islander in double figures with 17. She also pulled down five rebounds.
• Santa Clara dished out 17 assists on their 24 made baskets.

 
POSTGAME COMMENTS:
 

Hear from head coach Bill Carr after tonight's big win over Texas A&M Corpus Christi.#StampedeTogether pic.twitter.com/zTdPSnpHng

— Santa Clara Women's Basketball (@Santaclarawbb) November 22, 2023

HIGHLIGHTS:
 

When defense leads to offense!#StampedeTogether pic.twitter.com/qgm2CLRwlg

— Santa Clara Women's Basketball (@Santaclarawbb) November 22, 2023

Jayde caught ?? in the fourth!#StampedeTogether pic.twitter.com/ZhcUJ89kVc

— Santa Clara Women's Basketball (@Santaclarawbb) November 22, 2023

NEXT UP

• The Broncos face Boise State Friday at 4 p.m. and Texas Tech Saturday at 4 p.m. in the Las Vegas Thanksgiving Classic.