SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Led by the defense, Santa Clara women's basketball overcame a late run and grinded out a 63-58 win over North Texas Sunday afternoon in the nonconference finale. The Broncos (6-4) were in control until the fourth when the Mean Green's (7-3) defensive pressure started to cause problems, but a rough day shooting let Santa Clara hold on for the win.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• With the scored tied at 4-all, Santa Clara went on an 11-0 run, led by seven points from Hannah Rapp, to take a 15-4 lead. The Broncos would hold North Texas to just 4-of-18 shooting and took a 19-11 lead into the first break.
• The Mean Green cut their deficit to five after five straight points, but Santa Clara would get the lead back out to 33-23 at the halftime break. North Texas had eight made free throws in the first half and just seven made field goals, shooting 20.0-percent from the floor.
• An 8-0 run early in the third stretched Santa Clara's lead to a game-high 19 before a 9-1 stretch for North Texas got the Mean Green back within 11. The Broncos would lead 47-34 headed to the fourth.
• Things got tight in the final quarter with North Texas opening with a 9-3 run. Back-to-back layups put Santa Clara up double-figures for the final time at 54-43 with 4:37 to go. A 12-3 run for the Mean Green followed that saw them get within two with 30 seconds remaining. Despite the Broncos not making a field goal after getting back up 11, Kaya Ingram iced things from the free throw line, scoring the final nine for Santa Clara, all from the free throw line. After a 3-pointer with four seconds cut the lead to three, Ingram put it away with the final two of her free throws.

 
NOTABLE NUMBERS:

•  Santa Clara shot 45.8-percent from the field while going 4-of-16 from beyond the arc.
• The Broncos defense held North Texas to 24.6-percent shooting and 3-of-19 from downtown.
• Hannah Rapp led the Broncos with 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting and added five rebounds. Olivia Pollerd had 13 points and just missed a double-double with nine boards. Ingram scored all 12 of her points from the charity stripe, tying her career high with 12 makes and 14 attempts. Georgia Grigoropoulou also just missed a double-double with 10 boards and eight points.
• Tommisha Lampkin led all scorers with 25 on 9-of-14 from the floor and added a team leading eight rebounds. Kyla Deck was the only other Mean Green player in double-figures with 11 points.
• North Texas ended up with more free throws made (21) than field goals made (17).
• Santa Clara had 16 assists on its 22 made baskets.

 
POSTGAME COMMENTS:
 

secured the W.

Hear about today's win over North Texas from Coach Floyd ??#StampedeTogether pic.twitter.com/WWLFCPtKe2

— Santa Clara Women's Basketball (@Santaclarawbb) December 16, 2024

HIGHLIGHTS:
 

she's EVERWHERE ??

Rapp with 13 pts in the 3rd #StampedeTogether pic.twitter.com/C6jGRKYyl5

— Santa Clara Women's Basketball (@Santaclarawbb) December 15, 2024

Latu from 3??

Her first as a Bronco ??#StampedeTogether pic.twitter.com/eUhIicyiFV

— Santa Clara Women's Basketball (@Santaclarawbb) December 16, 2024

NEXT UP

• The Broncos open WCC play vs. Saint Mary's Thursday at 6 p.m.