Slow Start Dooms Broncos In Loss To Gaels

Slow Start Dooms Broncos In Loss To Gaels

Feb. 3, 2007

Final Stats

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara women's basketball team was victimized by a slow first half Saturday night, with poor shooting early on leading to a 76-61 defeat at the hands of the Saint Mary's Gaels at the Leavey Center. SCU shot only 27.3% in the first half which saw them fall into a 15-point hole by halftime from which they could not recover.

The Broncos (12-11, 4-4 WCC) will remain home next weekend as they host the Portland Pilots Thursday night, Feb. 8 and the Gonzaga Bulldogs on Saturday night, Feb. 10, both contests starting at 7 p.m. Tickets are available by calling (408) 554-4660.

Chandice Cronk led the Broncos with 16 points on the night, while Ashley Graham added 13 on 6-of-10 shooting. But the Broncos struggled from the floor, shooting only 35.5% (22-for-62) the entire game. SCU was also out-rebounded 47-35, although Jen Gottschalk grabbed nine rebounds and Tracey Walker seven.

Saint Mary's never trailed throughout the contest Saturday night, building an early 11-3 lead behind five points from Sheridan Arredondo. The advantage got to as many as 16 in the first half, at 26-10 with 6:49 to play, and at the break, the Gaels led 38-23.

Things didn't get much better for Santa Clara to start the second half, either, as the Gaels scored the first 14 points of the half to take a 52-23 lead, their largest of the game. In the final 10 minutes, the Broncos put a small scare into Saint Mary's, cutting the deficit down to 11 at various points, but the Gaels held on and kept the Broncos at bay. The scoring of Arredondo, who had 16 points, along with Maija Lahde's 16 and Jontelle Smith's 19 points, helped Saint Mary's to the victory.