Dec. 6, 2007
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara women's basketball team will travel to the hometown of assistant coach Michelle Cozad to battle the Pacific Tigers this Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m. at the Alex G. Spanos Center in Stockton, Calif.
SCU returns to the court after defeated Sacramento State 67-60 last Saturday afternoon. Senior Chandice Cronk led all players with a career-high 33 points, while senior Tracey Walker chipped in with 14 points.
The Broncos, who trailed the Hornets for the majority of the game, put together huge defensive stops in the final couple of minutes. SCU rallied back to knot the score and grab the win.
The Broncos enter Saturday's game with a 5-3 overall record. Senior Jen Gottschalk leads the squad as she averages 16.8 points per game and 6.0 rebounds per game. Cronk jumped to second place on the team in points this week. She registered 16.5 per game. She is also third on the team with 15 assists and fourth with 10 steals. Guard Walker checks in at the No. 1 spot this week in assists, dishing out a total of 31 thus far, and steals with a total of 17.
In The WCC:
As of Dec. 3, Santa Clara holds onto second place in the overall West Coast standings. The University of Portland moved into first place this week with a 6-2 record. As a team, the Broncos rank first in three-point field goal percentage and 3FG made. SCU is second in scoring defense and third in free throw percentage and field goal percentage.
Individually, six players are ranked in nine different statistical categories. Cronk and Walker own the highest honors with No. 1 spots in three-point field goals made and steals, respectively. Walker is also ranked second in assists, and seventh in defensive rebounds. Meanwhile, Cronk checks in at No. 5 in scoring.
Elizabeth Doran tabs the No. 2 spot in three-point field goal percentage and a No. 4 ranking in free throw percentage. She is also tied for ninth place in blocked shots.
Gottschalk claims a fourth place ranking in scoring, ninth in field goal percentage, and is tied for sixth in steals and 10th in defensive rebounds.
Freshman Nicole Gall returns to the WCC standings this week with a No. 3 ranking in three-point field goal 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. 5
Free-Throw PCT - No. 27
3FG PCT - No. 30
Assists per game - No. 83
Field-Goal PCT - No. 83
Individually, junior Doran holds a No. 18 ranking in three-point field goal percentage, while senior Walkers follows her at No. 30 in assists per game. Walker is also ranked 51st overall in steals per game.
Gottschalk claims the 81st spot in the nation in field goal percentage and is 96th overall in points per game. Cronk rounds out the Broncos' national leaders at No. 39 in three-point goals per game.
The Tigers enter the weekend with a 3-4 overall record. In its last outing, Pacific fell 84-77 to Colorado State on the road Tuesday night. Jake Kelly posted a team-high 28 points, while Janae Young registered 15 points and Karen Dawkins had 13 points and 12 rebounds.
Three Tigers lead the team in points this season. Young moved into first on the team this week with 88 points. She is followed by Andrea Swanson, who has registered 84 points and Kelly with 81 points. Young also leads the team with 35 field goals made and 56 rebounds. Meanwhile, Amy VanHollebeke is first on the squad in assists as she has dished out 29 thus far.
Saturday's contest marks the 38th meeting between Santa Clara and UOP. The Broncos own a 22-15 all-time record over the Tigers and have won the last two meetings.
Last season, SCU posted a 74-67 triumph over Pacific at the Leavey Center.
The Broncos play their last road contest of the calendar year on Wednesday, Dec. 12 against the Mustangs of Cal Poly. Tip off is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Mott Gym in San Luis Obispo, Calif.