SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The conference season began for Santa Clara women's basketball with an exciting 80-77 win over Pacific. The Broncos were in the lead for most of the game but the Tigers kept it close and even took a lead midway through the fourth before a Santa Clara run helped the push ahead for good.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Up be six at the 7:34 mark of the fourth, Santa Clara (13-3, 1-0 WCC) looked to be in control but Pacific (9-6, 1-1 WCC) went on a 7-0 run to take their first lead since the opening minute of the second quarter. The Broncos responded right back as Marya Hudgins's knocked down a tripe and Tess Heal followed with a pair of free throws.
• With just nine seconds left and Santa Clara up by four, A James was fouled on a 3-point attempt and made all three free throws to make it 78-77. Heal was fouled on the in-bounds pass and made just one of two to give Pacific a chance. James got an open look at a layup as a Bronco defender fell down but she couldn't convert and Santa Clara rebounded. After another foul, Heal again hit one of two to give the Tigers hope but a last second heave was nowhere close.
• Pacific used an 8-0 run to end the first to take a lead that got erased a minute into the second quarter. Aside from that lead, the Broncos didn't trail until the fourth.

 
NOTABLE NUMBERS:

•  Santa Clara shot 41.9-percent from the field to Pacific's 54.5-percent but the Broncos knocked down 11 3-pointers in 27 chances to the Tigers' three in 12 tries.
• Tess Heal had her second career 30-point game to lead all scorers. She was 7-of-14 from the field and 15-of-17 from the charity stripe while adding six assists and four rebounds. Olivia Pollerd had her fourth 20-point game and fourth game in a row scoring at least 19. She finished with 20 points on 9-of-18 shooting. Marya Hudgins's connected on four triples and finished with 12 points.

 
POSTGAME COMMENTS:
 

Hear from head coach Bill Carr after today's big conference-opening win over Pacific.#StampedeTogether pic.twitter.com/A5QqQ31kOE

— Santa Clara Women's Basketball (@Santaclarawbb) January 7, 2024

HIGHLIGHTS:

Check out the highlights from today's win!#StampedeTogether pic.twitter.com/kn81Xpwukv

— Santa Clara Women's Basketball (@Santaclarawbb) January 7, 2024

 
NEXT UP

• The Broncos play at No. 18 Gonzaga Thursday night.