Box Score SANTA CLARA, Calif. – West Coast conference play opened with a 68-46 win for Santa Clara women's basketball against San Diego Sunday afternoon. The Broncos (11-3, 1-0 WCC) got off to a slow start and didn't have a great day shooting the ball, but their defense made up for it by holding the Toreros (6-8 WCC, 0-1 WCC) to under 30-percent shooting.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• It was a slow start for both teams with Santa Clara missing its first nine shots from the field, but San Diego couldn't take advantage, going just 2-for-9 to start things, including a pair of missed free throws. Once the Broncos started to make some shots, they went on a 7-0 run to take the lead for the first time. They would finish the first quarter on top 13-10 despite shooting 4-of-16 from the field.
• Ashley Hawkins started the second with back-to-back 3-pointers and Santa Clara would use that to start a 16-2 run that featured the only San Diego field goal of the quarter and put the Broncos on top 29-12. The only other points the Toreros scored in the quarter were a pair of free throws as they went just 1-of-15 in the period. It wasn't a great shooting quarter for the Broncos either as they were 6-of-20 but still held a 32-14 lead at the break.
• San Diego was able to get within 14 in the middle part of the third quarter before an 8-0 run for Santa Clara stretched the lead out to 45-23. Another 6-0 stretch for the Broncos later in the quarter made it a game-high 26-point lead. Santa Clara led 53-33 after the third.
• Maia Jones started the fourth quarter with five straight points but that was the biggest run by either side in the final 10 minutes of action.

 
NOTABLE:

• Santa Clara only shot it at 29.7-percent (22-of-74) while going 9-of-33 from downtown. The Broncos had 17 assists on their 22 made baskets.
• Kate Schat led all scorers with a career high 14 points while connecting on three 3-pointers. Jones added 13 points and six rebounds with Hawkins scoring 12 to go with seven rebounds and five assists. Delainey Millers and Kylle Fox both scored seven with eight boards each.
• San Diego shot just 26.9-percent (18-of-67) from the field and was only 3-of-21 from deep. The first half was even worse at 19.4-percent (6-of-31) and 0-of-9 from beyond the arc. The Toreros also struggled from the free throw line all day, going 7-of-15.
• Kylie Ray was the only Torero to crack double-figures with 10 points. Lilly Amor added nine and Olivia Owens had eight with Ayla Williams eight rebounds leading the way.
• Santa Clara wont the battle of the boards 56-47 and 15-9 on the offensive end.
• The Broncos had a 17-5 advantage in points off turnovers.
• With her triple at 5:54 in the second quarter, Jones reached 100 made 3-pointers in her career.
• The 14 points allowed in the first half was tied for the fewest this season. The Broncos also allowed 14 in the first half against Wyoming on November 14. It was the fewest points in a half against a conference opponent since they held Portland to 13 points in the first half on January 17, 2014.

 
POSTGAME COMMENTS:
 

Hear from Coach Payne on today's first conference win??#StampedeTogether pic.twitter.com/UbeUIH0lyt

— Santa Clara Women's Basketball (@Santaclarawbb) December 28, 2025

HIGHLIGHTS:
 

KATE WITH THE RANGE ??#StampedeTogether pic.twitter.com/Mqoi0gBjkL

— Santa Clara Women's Basketball (@Santaclarawbb) December 28, 2025

?? ???????????? ???????????? ?????? ??????????#StampedeTogether pic.twitter.com/04ymH74ePw

— Santa Clara Women's Basketball (@Santaclarawbb) December 28, 2025

?????? ???? ???????? ?????? ??#StampedeTogether pic.twitter.com/nv5cz5iT7C

— Santa Clara Women's Basketball (@Santaclarawbb) December 28, 2025

NEXT UP

• The Broncos host Seattle Tuesday at 6 p.m.