Box Score ESTERO, Fla. – A tough day shooting the ball, particularly in the third quarter, cost Santa Clara women's basketball in a 61-49 loss to New Mexico State Saturday at the Gulf Coast Showcase. The Aggies (4-2) used a big third quarter to build a lead big enough that the Broncos (3-4) run in the fourth wasn't enough.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• New Mexico State built a double-digit lead in the first quarter with a 13-0 run that lasted over five minutes. Santa Clara was able to get the deficit down to 16-11 at the end of the first with Malia Latu scoring four straight points.
• The Broncos used a 12-2 run over the first five minutes of the second quarter to pull ahead, but the lead didn't last as the Aggies came back with 11 in a row despite making just two field goals during the run. Santa Clara went into the half down 29-24.
• A rough third quarter from the field (2-of-12) for the Broncos allowed New Mexico State to extend its lead. The big stretch was a 10-0 Aggies run midway through the period that made it a 17-point advantage. The Broncos cut it do 12 but five in a row to end the period put them down 52-35 after the quarter.
• After New Mexico State stretched the lead to a game-high 22 three minutes into the fourth, Santa Clara responded with an 11-0 run to cut the deficit to 59-48 with 1:46 left but there wasn't enough time left to complete the comeback.

 
NOTABLE NUMBERS:

• Santa Clara finished the day shooting 31.3-percent from the field but just 1-of-14 from beyond the arc.
• New Mexico State shot 46.8-percent from the floor and went 6-of-19 from downtown.
• Olivia Pollerd led the Broncos with 15 points but was 4-of-15 from the field and 1-of-8 from 3-point land. Malia Latu added 13 points with no other Bronco cracking double-figures.
• Jaila Harding led all scorers with 17 and was 5-of-11 from downtown. Lucia Yenes scored 13 and Fanta Gassama scored 12 with eight boards.

 
NEXT UP

• The Broncos play High Point tomorrow at 8 a.m. Pacific to wrap-up the tournament.