Box Score SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Santa Clara women's basketball suffered its first loss in Leavey Center this season, 82-45 to No. 17 Gonzaga. The Bulldogs got off to quick starts in each of the four quarters and the Broncos never got a sustained offensive rhythm going.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Gonzaga's (19-2, 5-0 WCC) 12-1 run early in the first quarter put them on top in the early going and hot shooting had them on top 22-14 after the first 10 minutes.
• The Bulldogs scored the first 11 of the second quarter to stretch their lead to 33-14 three minutes into the period. The Broncos (15-6, 3-3 WCC) used an 8-2 run during the final 1:50 of the opening half to get within 42-29 at the break.
• The second half started with another Gonzaga run. The Zags scored the first eight before the Broncos finally got on the board at the 5:19 mark. A 1-of-9 stretch for the Bulldogs was Santa Clara's best chance to cut into the lead but it didn't happen and Gonzaga ended the third up 23 after a 9-2 run.
• The lead continued to grow in the with a 9-0 run for Gonzaga.

 
NOTABLE NUMBERS:

• Santa Clara shot 32.0-percent from the field and struggled to a 2-of-16 mark from deep. Gonzaga was at 53.8-percent from the field and went 9-of-24 from downtown.
• Tess Heal was the bright spot on offense for the Broncos. She scored a game-high 22 points with three rebounds and three assists. Olivia Pollerd added eight points and Keeley Frawley pulled down seven rebounds.
• The Bulldogs had five players in double-figures led by 19 from Yvonne Ejim who also had 13 rebounds for the double-double. Maud Huijbens scored 15 with Kaylynne Truong adding 14 and Kayleigh Truong and Brynna Maxwell both chipping in 12.

 
POSTGAME COMMENTS:
 

Hear head coach Bill Carr's postgame thoughts.#StampedeTogether pic.twitter.com/Fp0oFdngqC

— Santa Clara Women's Basketball (@Santaclarawbb) January 26, 2024

NEXT UP

• The Broncos are at Saint Mary's Saturday at 1 p.m.