Box Score SAN JOSE, Calif. – Santa Clara women's basketball opened its 2023-24 season with a hard-earned 55-47 victory at San Jose State. Defense was the name of the game for most of the night but the Broncos offense found some life in the fourth to build their biggest lead of the game.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• A couple of quick buckets put the Spartans (0-1) on top early in the fourth but Santa Clara (1-0) responded with an 11-0 run to get on top for good. Down the stretch, Tess Heal hit six free throws in a row to ice the game.
• After not leading since the first quarter, the Broncos went on a quick 6-0 run to take a 27-25 lead early in the third.
• At the end of the first quarter and the start of the second, Santa Clara's offense went cold, going 6:41 without scoring. San Jose State was only able to take advantage with a 7-0 run to keep things close.

 
NOTABLE NUMBERS:

•  Santa Clara shot 34.0-percent from the field and were 4-of-17 from downtown but made up for it by going 15-of-17 from the charity stripe.
• Tess Heal led all scorers with 20 points despite battling foul trouble in the first half. Olivia Pollerd, Ashley Hiraki, and Emma Shaffer all scored eight points. Pollerd added a game-high seven rebounds.
• The Broncos defense forced 26 turnovers, including nine steals, which they turned into 22 points.
• San Jose shot 42.6-percent from the floor and 1-of-7 from beyond the arc.
• Jyah Lovett led the team with 13 points and six rebounds.

 
OTHER NTOES:

•  Malia Latu, Keeley Frawley, and Emma Shaffer all made their Bronco debuts after transferring in the offseason while Madi Naro made her collegiate debut.

 
POSTGAME COMMENTS:
"That was a good road victory against a very physical and well-prepared team. We made some big plays late to secure a victory."
 
-Head coach Bill Carr
 
NEXT UP

• The Broncos play at Cal Wednesday at 7 p.m.