Dec. 17, 2002
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara University women's basketball team defeated Loyola of Chicago 82-58 this evening at the Leavey Center. Junior reserve Jennie Rondel led the Broncos with a career-high 17 points as Santa Clara improves to 5-3 on the season. The Ramblers fall to 1-7.
Senior Tammy Annas started the scoring for the Broncos with a lay-up, and the home squad never looked back. A baseline jumper from sophomore Kayla Huss put SCU ahead 12-4 while a three-pointer from sophomore post Kim Butler made it a 15-6 ballgame.
Loyola countered with a three from Mandy Mennella, who finished the contest with a team-high 12 points. Santa Clara's offense returned with two scores by Julie Butler to put the Broncos ahead by 11, but five straight points from the Ramblers reduced the Bronco lead to six. Rondel entered the contest and put up two scores, followed by a put-back from senior Kendra Rhea. Annas stole the ball on Loyola's next possession and gave it to Rondel for a jumper that made the lead 29-15. Huss hit a baseline jumper as the 30-set shot clock was about to expire, giving Santa Clara a comfortable lead at intermission, 36-21.
SCU kept the pace fast as the second half began, with a Quinn Thomas steal and a Huss lay-in that moved the lead to 40-24. A great backdoor pass from Annas to Rhea for two more points forced Loyola's head coach to call a time out with 14 minutes remaining and the Broncos ahead by 21.
The Broncos kept executing their offense, resulting in a spurt that saw Rondel score twice and convert a three-point play. Megan Nelson's jumper pushed the Broncos' lead to 30. Rondel set a new career high in points with a lay-up with just under seven minutes on the clock.
Annas finished with a game-high nine rebounds, while Rhea chipped in eight, as did the Ramblers' Maggie Toczylowski. The Broncos held Loyola to 29.8 percent shooting while hitting over 50 percent of their shots for only the second time this season.
The game was physical, with 46 fouls called between the two teams. Kim Butler fouled out for the Broncos while four other players between both teams finished the game with four fouls apiece.
SCU head coach Michelle Bento cleared her entire bench during the contest, and junior reserve Alex Gientke recorded her first collegiate field goal, nailing a three-point attempt just four minutes into the second half.
The Broncos remain at home and host Pacific on Saturday. The game will be the last for the team before the holiday break and is slated for 2 p.m. Santa Clara returns to the courts on Saturday, Dec. 28, hosting Arkansas State at 2 p.m. Both contests will be at the Leavey Center.
