SAN FRANCISCO – A close game most of the way, Santa Clara women's basketball created some distance late in a 77-67 win at San Francisco Thursday. The Broncos (14-4, 4-1 WCC) led at the end of every quarter, but the Don's (10-6, 3-2 WCC) held leads in each of the first three quarters to keep things close until the final minutes.
HOW IT HAPPENED:Â
- San Francisco started hot and took a 9-2 lead with an early 7-0 run as Santa Clara missed its first six shots. The Broncos responded with an 8-0 run of their won, featuring five points from Maia Jones, to make it a 10-9 game. Late in the period, Jones hit a triple and then converted a three free throw foul for a 6-0 Bronco run that put them up five. The period ended with Santa Clara on top 21-16.
- The Dons scored the first seven of the the second quarter to go back out on top. They would hold a four-point lead at the midway point of the period when Aniya Hooker scored five in a row and the Broncos rattled off seven points in a row to retake the lead as San Francisco closed the have 1-for-7 from the field. The teams went into the locker room with Santa Clara on top 34-33.
- The teams went back-and-forth for the first half of the third quarter with San Francisco getting on top by three. The Broncos followed with a 9-2 run that that put them up 53-49. The lead remained at four points, 57-53, at the end of the quarter.
- The first four of the fourth went to the Dons to tie the score but a 6-0 run by Santa Clara followed that would give them the lead for good. Back-to-back buckets by Jones and Sophie Glancey gave the Broncos a game-high lead of 11 at the 2:14 mark. It would be the last Santa Clara field goals of the night but the team converted at the free throw line down the stretch to seal the victory.
NOTABLE:
- Santa Clara shot 37.9-percent (25-of-66) from the field and went 7-of-21 from downtown. The Broncos also were 20-of-27 from the charity stripe.
- Maia Jones led all scorers with 25 points while knocking down three 3-pointers an 10 free throws. Hooker tied her career high with 14 points on 4-of-7 shooting and Ashley Hawkins scored 10 with four assists.
- San Francisco shot it at 40.3-percent (29-of-72) from the floor and struggled from deep, going just 3-of-25 from beyond the arc.
- Candy Edokpaigbe led the Dons with 19 points on 8-of-13 shooting and Aina Cargol scored 17 with seven assists.
- Santa Clara held a 20-7 edge in points off turnovers.
- The Broncos' 14-4 start is the program's best since beginning 2000-01 15-4.
POSTGAME COMMENTS:Â
HIGHLIGHTS:Â
NEXT UP
- The Broncos play at Washington State Saturday at 12 p.m.
