Dec. 15, 2006
MANHATTAN, Kan. - The Santa Clara women's basketball team's trip to America's Heartland got off to a rough start Friday night as the team dropped a 76-52 decision to the Kansas State Wildcats at Bramlage Coliseum. Shooting and rebounding woes kept the Broncos behind almost from the start, while the Wildcat defense held the high-scoring Bronco offense in check.
The Broncos will now head an hour east to Lawrence, where they will face off against the Kansas Jayhawks Sunday at 12 p.m. PT.
Ashley Gonnerman led all Broncos with 13 points in the contest, followed by Kasey Monteith's 10. Tracey Walker led the team with seven rebounds.
Marlies Gipson led the Wildcats with 18 points, grabbing nine rebounds and blocking three shots as well. Danielle Zanotti's 11 points and six boards along with Claire Coggins' 13 points and four rebounds also helped the KSU cause.
Despite trailing only 7-5 in the opening minutes, the Broncos fell into a quick hole as the Wildcats used their size advantage to score the next seven points and open up a 14-5 lead. A 7-2 run capped by a Cronk three brought SCU to within four, but once again, Kansas State's size underneath took over, as a three-point play from Gipson and a lay-up from Shana Wheeler got the lead back to nine at 21-12.
Santa Clara cut the deficit to five at the 9:25 mark, and to six twice more in the half, but the Broncos could not take advantage in transition in the latter part of the first half, as the Wildcats went into the locker room with a 38-28 lead.
The Wildcats out-rebounded the Broncos 22-11 in the opening 20 minutes, and 45-32 for the contest.
Things didn't get much better for the Broncos in the second half, as KSU's Zanotti hit consecutive threes after Monteith's half-opening layup. Kansas State's size continued to keep the Bronco offense in check, as the Wildcats blocked 12 SCU attempts, led by Wheeler's five.
Shooting woes also plagued the Broncos Friday night, as the team shot a collective 32.8%, including a 3-for-15 effort (20.0%) from behind the arc.