Jan. 15, 2009

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SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Santa Clara senior guard Elizabeth Doran earned her 500th career point Thursday night as the Broncos fell 65-47 to the Bulldogs of Gonzaga at the Leavey Center. Doran posted 13 points in the nationally televised game on CBS College Sports that included three three-pointers.

The Broncos (2-16-, 0-3 WCC) were led by Lena Gipson, who compiled double-double No. 13 with 16 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Gipson also had four steals. Sara Majors also pulled down double-digit rebounds with 10.

Courtney Vandersloot led the game with 25 points for Gonzaga (14-4, 2-0 WCC). Heather Bowman and Janelle Bekkering each added 12 points.

Santa Clara took early control of the game off a jumper from Gipson, 2-0, and then climbed to a 5-1 lead on a three-pointer from Doran. The Broncos led 9-3 with 14:19 to play but the Bulldogs began to fight back with a trey from Vandersloot. Free throws by Vivian Frieson brought Gonzaga within one-point, 9-8, and a bucket by Vandersloot put the Bulldogs up by one point, 10-9, with 10:44 remaining. The Broncos responded with energy off the bench from Kathy Willinsky, who quickly made a layup to give SCU back the lead. However, Kayla Standish started a 17-7 rally that gave Gonzaga a nine-point lead, 27-18. The Bulldogs went on to take a 29-20 lead going into half time.

It was in the second half that Doran reached 500 points with a three-pointer that interrupted the Zags run, 33-25. However, Gonzaga continued to push ahead and at 11:42 Bowman made a layup to push their lead to 19 points, 47-28. The Bulldogs climbed to a 29-point lead on three occasions. The last was at 4:22 on free throws by Bowman. Yet, the Broncos fought in the final minutes on points from Gipson, Doran and Alyssa Shoji to cut the score to 18-points, 65-47.

The Broncos return to action on Saturday, Jan. 17 when the host the Pilots of Portland. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Leavey Center.