Feb. 20, 2008
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara women's basketball team battles San Diego and San Francisco in its final road contests of the 2007-08 regular season. The Broncos and Toreros face off on Thursday, Feb. 21 at the Jenny Craig Pavilion, while SCU and USF go head-to-head on Saturday, Feb. 23 at the War Memorial Gym. Tip off for both games is scheduled for 7 p.m.
SCU returns to its winning ways last week as the Broncos posted a 2-0 week in West Coast Conference action. In its first overtime contest of the season, Santa Clara defeated Pepperdine 86-81 on Valentine's Day. Tracey Walker led the Broncos with 27 points, while Jen Gottschalk controlled the boards with a game-high 13 rebounds. On Saturday, the Broncos completed the sweep of the visiting Los Angeles teams with a narrow 49-48 triumph over Loyola Marymount. Sara Majors led all players with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
The Broncos enter their final week on the road with an 18-7 overall record and a 7-3 league mark. Gottschalk is first on the team in both points and rebounds (15.9 and 8.3, respectively).
The Toreros enter the week with a 13-11 overall record and a 4-6 WCC record, which places them in a tie for fifth with travel partner USF. San Diego split its contest last week, defeating Portland 62-52 and falling to Gonzaga 76-60 on the road. Amber Sprague continues to lead the Toreros averaging 16.3 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. Kiva Herman is second on the squad with 12.8 points per game, while Amanda Rego averages 5.3 boards per game.
Santa Clara leads the all-time series against San Diego, 30-20. The two teams last met on Jan. 24 at the Leavey Center when the Broncos posted a 66-64 victory in a game that game down to the wire and free throws from Chandice Cronk.
The Dons begin the week with a 13-12 overall record and a 4-6 league mark. USF went 0-2 last week falling to both Portland and Gonzaga on the road. The Dons have lost their last five of six contests and ride a four-game losing streak into the week's games. USF is paced by Dominique Carter, who averages 18.9 points and 6.7 rebounds per game.
Santa Clara leads the all-time series against USF, 42-32. Saturday's game is the 75th contest between the two teams in a series that dates back to the 1964-65 season. In their last meeting, the Broncos defeated the Dons, 57-50.
Santa Clara returns to the Leavey Center for their final two contest of the regular season. On Thursday, Feb. 29, SCU hosts Gonzaga at 7 p.m. Then, on Saturday, Mar. 1, celebrate Senior Day as the Broncos close out the season against the Pilots of Portland. Tip off is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Last week saw senior Walker set new personal bests in various statistical categories as the Broncos celebrated an 86-81 victory over Pepperdine on Valentine's Day.
Against the Waves Walker broke her career-high with 27 points. A week earlier she set her new personal best at 23 points. It was the fourth time this season Walker bettered her points tally. Against the Waves, the San Jose native also set personal bests in field goals (10), field goals attempted (23), 3FGs (5), 3FGs attempted and minutes played.
Walker wasn't the only Bronco to have a memorable V-day. Freshman guard Nicole Gall compiled personal bests against the Waves as well. The Boise, Idaho, native set new highs in points (17), field goals (6), FG attempts (9), 3FGs (5) and 3FG attempts (8).
Head coach Michelle Bento-Jackson is now 4 wins shy of reaching the 100 career victories mark. She currently owns a 96-80 record as a head coach.
The Broncos move back into second place this week as they enter the final two weeks of regular season action. This week, SCU continues to hold onto its No. 1 rankings in three-point field goal percentage and 3FGs made, as well as in field goal defense.
In The Nation:
As a team, Santa Clara is ranked in all the statistical categories. SCU's highest rankings are:
Free-Throw PCT - No. 24
3FG per Game - No. 9
3FG PCT - No. 37
Assists per game - No. 30
Individually, Gottschalk moved up to No. 86 this week in rebounds this week.