Nov. 26, 2005
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara women's basketball team's regular season home opener was spoiled Saturday afternoon as the Kansas State Wildcats came out shooting and drained a school-record 15 three-pointers to claim a 100-71 victory over the Broncos at the Leavey Center.
The Broncos (0-3) were led offensively by Tracey Walker, who scored a career-high 15 points and fearlessly attacked the Kansas State defense, getting herself to the line eleven times in the game. Walker also paced Santa Clara with six rebounds. Kayla Huss made good on five of her six shots from the floor for 13 points and Michelle Cozad also scored in double figures, posting ten points on the day.
But the Wildcats (2-0) were just too much from behind the arc as guards Kimberly Dietz and Twiggy McIntyre each sank five threes, with Dietz leading all scorers on the day with 23 points. Marlies Gipson also contributed to the cause, pulling down 16 rebounds for Kansas State and posting four blocks on the defensive end.
"They are a very good program and have been for years, and we knew that they were going to be ready to play and that this was going to be a big challenge for us," said head coach Michelle Bento-Jackson. "But we were in the bonus with 16 minutes left in the second half. That should be a great opportunity for us, but I didn't think we took advantage of that."
Things started off evenly as the teams traded baskets and the Broncos jumped out to a quick 7-3 lead. Kansas State regrouped and the teams stayed within seven throughout much of the first half, with the Broncos leading 27-25 at one point. The Wildcats, behind the three-point shooting of Dietz and McIntyre, took the lead and managed to extend it to 45-36 at the break.
In the second half, Kansas State just stayed on fire, preventing the Broncos from getting back into the game by continually answering everything Santa Clara could throw at them.
Santa Clara returns to the court Monday night in the final game of this season-opening homestand to face the Golden Knights of Central Florida. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. and tickets are available by calling (408) 554-4660.
