Jan. 25, 2001
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - For the third time in five West Coast Conference games, the Santa Clara women's basketball team recovered from a halftime deficit, this time defeating Portland 60-53 at the Leavey Center.
The Broncos were paced by senior forward Annie Garrison's 22 points. With her fourth double-digit conference scoring game, Garrison is now averaging 18.2 points in league action.
Santa Clara improves to 13-4 overall, 4-1 in WCC action, and has now won six of their last seven. Portland falls to 11-7 on the season, 2-3 in league play. The all-time series is now tied at 16 games apiece.
Portland took an early 9-3 lead as the Broncos went six minutes without a field goal. After tying the game four times, Santa Clara went up 23-21 with 3:38 left in the half on a layup by sophomore forward Kendra Rhea. The Broncos expanded that lead to five before a three-pointer by the Pilots' Viola Kollten, followed by a jump shot by Sharon Rissmiller, brought the visitors back into the game. Two free throws gave Portland a 30-28 advantage at halftime.
After expanding their lead to six in the second half, Portland committed four straight turnovers as SCU got back into the game with a three-pointer by junior guard Caroline Gruening, sandwiched between to Garrison layups to put the Broncos ahead for good at 47-45.
Portland was led by Rissmiller's 16 points, followed by 11 from Ashlee Giles. The Pilots committed 11 of their 18 turnovers in the second half.
Also scoring for the Broncos was senior Kim Sorenson with 7 and senior Jen Glysson, junior Becki Ashbaugh, Gruening and Rhea with six points each. Glysson led all defensive efforts with eight rebounds.
The Broncos host Gonzaga on Saturday, Jan. 27th. The game will begin at 7 p.m. at the Leavey Center. The athletic department is celebrating "Take a Kid to the Game Night," where all youths will receive free admission with a paying adult.
