Feb. 13, 2002
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This Week
Santa Clara returns to the Bay Area and will face San Francisco and Saint Mary's in continuing league action. The Dons are tied for fourth in the West Coast Conference, just two games back from the second-place Broncos. The Gaels are currently in third place. Saturday's 3 p.m. contest at Saint Mary's will air live on Fox Sports Bay Area.
Ashbaugh Makes Bronco First: 1,000 Points, 500 Assists
Washington native Becki Ashbaugh became the first Bronco ever to notch 1,000 point and 500 assists in a career this past weekend. On Feb. 9, her free throw with six seconds remaining against Gonzaga made her only the 13th Bronco to reach the point marker. She hit the later milestone to open conference play, and currently has 569. She has 22 to go before tying current career leader Jennifer Lucas' (1986-89) 591 mark. In the WCC, she ranks fourth all time in assists and is only the second to reach both marks, joining Anja Bordt of Saint Mary's, who notched 1,710 points and 654 assists from 1988-91.
Live on the Internet
Santa Clara's league contests can be heard on a live Internet audio broadcast on www.SantaClaraBroncos.com. Additionally, all home contests can be followed online with a live statistical tracker, also located on Santa Clara's official athletic website. By logging on, fans can receive real-time updated statistics direct from the official scoring computer allowing users to listen to the audio broadcast and keep up with the statistics simultaneously. The features were introduced midway through last season and have been enjoyed for the team's entire regular season home schedule. Anthony Passarelli begins his first season as the voice of the Broncos.
Among the Best in the Nation
Santa Clara is ranked 28th nationally in three-point field goals per game (6.6), 28th in scoring offense (75.9), 29th in free throw percentage (.748) and tied for 30th in three-point field goal percentage (.371). Individually, Becki Ashbaugh is tied for ninth in assists per game (6.5) and 23rd in free throw percentage (87.2) and Caroline Gruening is ranked 14th in three-point field goal percentage (.443).
Scouting the San Francisco Dons
Series Record: SCU leads 31-28
First Game: Santa Clara won 47-23 in 1964-65
Last Game: Santa Clara won 65-64 on Feb. 2, 2002 in Santa Clara
Largest SCU Margin of Victory: 27, on Feb. 3, 1999 (91-64) in San Francisco
Largest USF Margin of Victory: 37 on Dec. 1, 1979 (74-37) in San Francisco
USF Record in 2000-2001: 13-16, (5-9, t-5th in West Coast Conference)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 9/6
Starters Returning/Lost: 3/2
Notable: San Francisco is 13-10 overall and tied for fourth in the conference at 5-5... Carey Sauer leads the nation in free-throw percentage (93.2).
Scouting the Saint Mary's Gaels
Series Record: SCU leads 24-15
First Game: Santa Clara won 75-32 on Jan. 6, 1979 in Santa Clara
Last Game: Santa Clara won 93-90 (2OT) on Jan. 31, 2002 in Santa Clara
Largest SCU Margin of Victory: 43 on Jan. 6, 1979 (75-32) in Santa Clara
Largest SMC Margin of Victory: 26 on Jan. 20, 1989 (90-64) in Moraga
SMC Record in 2000-2001: 26-6, (11-3, t-1st in West Coast Conference)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 8/5
Starters Returning/Lost: 3/2
Notable: Saint Mary's is one game behind the Broncos at 6-4 in the WCC... overall the Gaels are 12-10... Jerkisha Dosty leads the field in scoring, averaging 22.7 ppg, while her twin sister Jermisha tops the league in rebounding, averaging 13 boards per contest.
In the WCC Statistics
Santa Clara leads the league in four categories: scoring offense (75.9 ppg), scoring margin (+8.2), field goal percentage (.435) and defensive rebounds (28.13). The Broncos are second in three-point field goal percentages (.371), free throw percentages (.748), assists (17.17) and three-point field goals made (6.61). Individually, Becki Ashbaugh is tops in assists (6.43) and second in free throw percentage (.872). Caroline Gruening is second in three-point percentage (.443) and fourth in three-point field goals made (2.04). Kendra Rhea is ranked fifth in rebounds (6.9).
Spreading the Bronco Offense
Four Bronco players are currently averaging at least 10 points per contest thus far in the season. Tammy Annas leads the team with a 11.8 ppg average. Julie Butler is right behind her with a 11.3 mark, while Becki Ashbaugh has a 10.9 average and Caroline Gruening has a 10.6 season mark. As a team, the Broncos are averaging 75.9 points per game to lead the league.
Gruening from Downtown
Caroline Gruening made at least one three-pointer in the Broncos' first 14 games and shot over .250 from behind the arc in all but one of those contests. On six of those occasions, Gruening hit at least three treys, and knocked down four in consecutive games against San Jose State and Stanford. In the team's first two tournaments, she went 8-21, during the middle four games, she combined to shoot 10-17. The second half of December saw Gruening nail 10-13, making her shots at an 77-percent clip from behind the arc. Overall this season, Gruening is shooting 44.3 percent from the land of plenty (47-106), the 14th best mark in the country, while only hitting 24-65 from inside the arc.
Butler to Miss 4-6 Weeks After Breaking Ankle
Freshman Kim Butler, a forward from Tacoma, Wash., is expected to miss the next 3-5 weeks after breaking her left ankle in practice on Feb. 5.
Up Next: Wrapping up WCC Action
Santa Clara returns home for the final two league contests of the season, hosting Loyola Marymount on Thursday and Pepperdine on Saturday. The contest against the Lions is also "Take a Kid to the Game Night", where youth will be admitted for $2 with an adult. On Saturday, the athletic department will honor the team's two seniors, Caroline Gruening and Becki Ashbaugh while also celebrating Fan Appreciation Day.
Game Tickets On Sale
Individual game tickets for Santa Clara's TWO remaining home contests are on sale through the school's official website www.SantaClaraBroncos.com and the athletic ticket office at 408-554-4660. In conjunction with Student Advantage's FANSonly Network, the athletic department has developed an online ticket application that provides fans with the ability to purchase season tickets, family plans, individual games or an all-sports pass via the official athletic website. Tickets are also available through the athletic ticket office, open from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The WCC Basketball Championship
For the second consecutive year, the Broncos will have to travel for the chance at the league title. Last season, the West Coast Conference left the Mission Campus for the first time in three years to host its annual basketball showcase, as the 2001 WCC Women's Basketball Championships took place last March at San Diego's Jenny Craig Pavilion. Renovations to the Leavey Center prompted the change in venue, but the Toreros did such a good job hosting, the 2002 tournament is returning to the JCP. The tournament will take place February 28 through March 4, with the women's semifinal games beginning March 1 at 6 p.m., with the championship slated for a 2:30 p.m. start on March 3. The title contest will air live on Fox Sports West, KRON and Action Sports. Santa Clara is offering a Super Pass that will allow admission to all the men's and women's games with seating located in the Broncos' section for $65. Please visit www.SantaClaraBroncos.com or call 408-554-4660 to order tickets.