Feb. 14, 2008
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Tracey Walker and Jen Gottschalk registered double-doubles to lead the Santa Clara women's basketball team to an 86-81 overtime victory over Pepperdine Thursday night at the Leavey Center. With the win, SCU improved to 6-3 in West Coast Conference action and 17-7 on the season, while the Waves dropped to 1-9 in league play and 6-17 overall.
Walker posted a career-high 27 points and pulled down 11 rebounds for the Broncos, while Gottschalk compiled her ninth double-double of the season with 19 points and 13 rebounds. Freshman Nicole Gall added a season-best 17 points, going 5-for-8 from beyond the arc, while Elizabeth Doran chipped in with 10 points.
The Broncos started the game with an early scoring run, notching 10 points in the first three minutes of the contest. Daphanie Kennedy, who registered a game-high 31 points, ended Santa Clara's run with a layup, 10-2. The Waves rallied back to bring the score within one point, 15-14, with 9:32 left in the first half. Pepperdine earned its first lead of the night with 4:57 remaining, 25-24, but Doran responded with a three-pointer to quickly put SCU up by two, 27-25. The two teams traded baskets and the Broncos ended the first half with a three-point lead, 36-33.
Less than two minutes into the second half, an aggressive Santa Clara offensive scored five points, widening its lead to seven points, 41-34. The Broncos then claimed their largest lead of the contest, 55-44, on trey from Gall with 11:30 to play. Yet, the Waves were relentless and with 4:10 left in the second half, a shot from beyond the arc by Katie Menton and a free shot by Jessica Ross put Pepperdine within three points of SCU, 64-61. A three-pointer from Taylor Smith knotted the score, 66-66, with 1:21 left in regulation. Gall dropped another trey for the Broncos with 56 seconds left to give SCU a 69-66 advantage but a free shot from Miranda Ayim and a layup from Kennedy sent the game into overtime.
Kennedy scored the first basket in overtime on a layup, 71-69, but Walker answered with a three-pointed, followed by another shot from beyond the arc by Gall and a second trey by Walker to make the score, 78-73. Walker then fired back with a fast break layup, 80-75, with 1:00 left. A free shot by Ayim and two free throws by Kennedy brought the Waves within two points, 80-78, with 32 seconds left. But free throws by Doran and Sara Majors gave Santa Clara a six-point advantage, 84-78, with 22 seconds left. With 10 seconds left, Gottschalk made two free throws to give the Broncos the 86-81 victory.
The Broncos return to action on Saturday, Feb. 16 against the Lions of Loyola Marymount. Saturday is Pack the House night at the Leavey Center. Fans are asked to wear red in support of their Broncos. Tip off is scheduled for 2 p.m.