Nov. 16, 2007
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara women's basketball team opens its home schedule on Saturday, Nov. 17 against Boise State. Tip off is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Leavey Center.
Last Week for the Broncos
The Broncos enter this weekend with a 1-1 overall record. In its last outing, Santa Clara posted a 62-52 victory over Washington State on Tuesday, Nov. 13. Leading the Broncos was senior Chandice Cronk, who recorded a game-high 18 points. Junior Elizabeth Doran chipped in with 13 points and Jen Gottschalk registered the first double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
With two games complete, Doran leads SCU with a .474 field goal percentage, while Cronk is the team's high-scorer, averaging 15 points per game. Gottschalk has already averages 9.5 rebounds per game, while posting a team-best six steals.
Cronk Hits Career Milestone
Senior guard Cronk became the 17th Bronco to reach 1,000 career points on Tuesday against Washington. The Wasilla, Alaska native began the season with 986 points under her belt and within the first game of the year, brought her total to 998. After two good free throws against the Cougars, Cronk was at her 1,000th point. As of today, Cronk has 1,016 career points.
Scouting Boise State
The Broncos enter the weekend with a 2-0 start. Boise State defeated West Coast Conference opponent Loyola Marymount in their season opener, 71-67, and most recently posted a 70-64 victory over Montana. In that contest, Tasha Harris led the team with 25 points, while Jessica Thompson and Rebecca Kepilion collected double-doubles. Thompson registered 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Kepilino added 11 points and had 10 rebounds.
For the season, Harris owns a team-best .517 field goal percentage, while Thompson is first on the team with a .833 free throw percentage (5-for-6). Three Broncos have already posted double-digit rebounds. Kepilino leads the group with 17 total rebounds, while Thompson has 12 rebounds and Amanda Stewart has 12. In scoring, four Broncos average double-figures.
All-Time vs. Boise State
Santa Clara owns a 3-1 all-time record against Boise State. Last year the Broncos met for the first time since the 1995-96 season. SCU defeated Boise State, 67-65, at the Taco Bell Arena in Boise. Gottschalk was Santa Clara's high scorer with 17 points and earned her first double-double of the season with a team-best 12 rebounds.
SCU At Home
The Broncos hold an all-time mark of 258-140 (.648) in games held at the Leavey Center, dating back to the Toso Pavilion days in 1979-80. Since going 6-8 at home in the 1995-96 season, the Broncos have only had one sub-.500 season at home since then, when the injury-ravaged 2003-04 team went 3-13. Last year's Broncos went 7-7 at the Leavey Center, and three times in program history SCU has posted unblemished marks at home, going 17-0 in 1990-91, 15-0 in 1997-98, and 12-0 in 2001-02.
In the WCC
As of Nov. 14, Santa Clara ranks first among West Coast Conference schools in three-point percentage and three-point field goals made, and is second in field goal percentage. The Broncos as a team are also ranked third in scoring defense.
Individually, Cronk checks in at No. 7 in scoring, while Doran is tied for eighth place. In rebounding, Gottschalk claims the No. 3 spot, while Sara Majors is third in assists.
In free throw percentage, Doran is eighth overall, while Nicole Gall leads the conference in three-point field goal percentage. Doran is right behind her at the No. 2 spot. Gottschalk and Cronk are also ranked No. 4 and No. 10 in that category, respectively.
In steals, Gottschalk ties for third place, while Majors is tied for eighth place. Gottschalk and Doran are also tied for sixth in blocked shots.
Freshman Frenzy
The SCU freshman class has already begun to prove themselves on the court this season as two have earned their first collegiate starts and four have play key minutes for the Broncos.
In the season opener, Rhianna Faithfull was given her first collegiate shot where she collected two rebounds and dished out two assists. Kelli Parker was the next Bronco freshman to get the opportunity to start and will most likely do so again against Boise State. Parker has played in 45 minutes for the Broncos, posted 10 points and three steals.
Gall has already posted double-figure points, while recording eight rebounds and a .667 3-point percentage. Meanwhile, Becky Goll is fourth on the team with a .429 free throw percentage.
On Deck
The Broncos return to action on Tuesday, Nov. 20 against Braves of Bradley in their first game of the Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout. Tip off is scheduled for 9 p.m. PT.