Feb. 12, 2008
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara women's basketball team returns to the Leavey Center this week to host Pepperdine and Loyola Marymount in West Coast Conference action. The Broncos and Waves battle on Thursday, Feb. 14 at 7 p.m., while SCU and LMU face off on Saturday, Feb. 16 at 2 p.m.
The Broncos will host their annual "Pack the House" event on Saturday against the Lions. Fans are encouraged to "Paint the House Red" in support of their Broncos. Tip off is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Leavey Center.
The Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) began their 2008 "Think Pink" initiative on Feb. 8 and the Broncos will join over 900 teams from a variety of sports across the nation to help the fight against breast cancer this week.
The Broncos were recognized during a timeout of Saturday's contest at Saint Mary's for their fundraising efforts in October for the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk. The Broncos raised over $3,000 for the cause.
SCU began the second half of WCC action last Saturday with a hard 65-54 loss to rivals Saint Mary's. Sara Majors led the way for the Broncos with a career-high 18 points, four rebounds and three assists and steals. Elizabeth Doran added 15 points and five boards for Santa Clara, while Tracey Walker also registered double-figure points with 11 and a team-best eight rebounds.
The Broncos enter the week with a 16-7 overall record and a 5-3 WCC record. The Broncos are paced by senior Jen Gottschalk who averages 15.8 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. Walker is second on the team in scoring with 10.9 points per game, while pulling down 4.8 boards per game. Walker is also the Broncos' assists leaders with 96 thus far.
The Waves enter the week with a 6-16 overall record and a 1-8 WCC record. Pepperdine will look to break their six game losing streak against SCU Thursday night. Last weekend, the Waves lost in double overtime action to Portland 84-83 and then faced a 92-85 outcome against Gonzaga. Daphanie Kennedy led the Waves with 27.0 points per game. On the season, Kennedy averages 19.0 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, while Miranda Ayim posts 12.4 points and 7.8 boards per game and leads the Waves with 39 blocked shots.
Santa Clara leads the all-time series against Pepperdine, 29-25. The teams last met on Jan. 19 in Malibu, when the Broncos defeated the Waves 71-66. The loss to SCU started Pepperdine's current drought.
The Lions enter the week with a 14-10 overall record and a 6-3 league record. LMU is currently riding a three-game win streak that includes a 75-60 victory over Gonzaga last Thursday. Amanda DeCoud led the Lions over the weekend with 16.5 points per game. On the season, Renahy Young leads LMU with 15.4 points per game, while DeCoud averages 11.4 points and 4.4 boards per game.
Santa Clara leads the all-time series against LMU, 38-13. The teams last met on Jan. 17 in Los Angeles, when the Broncos handed the Lions an 81-65 loss.
The Broncos take to the road for their final road contests of the regular season. Santa Clara travels to San Diego on Thursday, Feb. 21 and then returns to the Bay Area for a Saturday, Feb. 23 contest against San Francisco. Tip off for both games is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Guard Doran was recognized for her excellent performance both on the court and in the classroom on Thursday as she was named to ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VIII First Team.
"Liz has dedicated a tremendous amount of time and effort into being the best possible student that she can be," said head coach Michelle Bento-Jackson. "She fully understands the importance of academics and has taken advantage of the resources Santa Clara University offers to its fullest. Liz has a very strong work ethic in everything that she does and I'm pleased that she is being recognized for her outstanding performance both on and off the court."
The Corvallis, Ore., native's carries a 3.95 cumulative grade-point average as she works towards a bio-engineering degree and her determination and drive in the classroom extends to her team-leading efforts on the court. Doran leads the Broncos in field goal, 3FG and free throw percentages as well as blocked shots.
Where They Fare...
In The WCC:
The Broncos enter the second half of conference play ranked third in the league, while the Bulldogs remain in first place with a 8-1 record. SCU holds onto its No. 1 rankings in three-point field goal percentage and 3FGs made, and moves into the No. 1 spot in free throw percentage.
In The Nation:
As a team, Santa Clara is ranked in all the statistical categories. SCU's highest rankings are:
3FG per Game - No. 8
Free-Throw PCT - No. 19
Assists per game - No. 31
3FG PCT - No. 36
Individually, Gottschalk rounds out the top 100 in rebounds per game, while Walker is now No. 60 overall in assists per game.