Jan. 21, 2009
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara women's basketball team travels to San Francisco this weekend to take on the Dons in West Coast Conference action. Tip off is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the War Memorial Gym in San Francisco.
TIME CHANGE
Bronco Fans, there has been a time change for this weekend's women's basketball game at San Francisco. The Broncos and the Dons will tip-off at 2 p.m., instead of the previously listed 7 p.m., at the War Memorial Gym in San Francisco. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Last Time Out
The Broncos lost a hard-fought game against the Pilots, 50-38. Lena Gipson earned double-double No. 13 with 15 points and 10 rebounds. She was also 9-for-11 from the charity stripe. Santa Clara was down by two points going into halftime 20-18 but Portland stormed through the second half, not letting the Broncos catch up.
Follow Your Broncos Online
Fans cans watch and listen live to Saturday's game via Bronco All-Access as Sam Farber will be calling the play-by-play action on www.SantaClaraBroncos.com. USF will also offer free live stats via Gametracker on www.usfdons.com.
Bronco Watch
Gipson is the only Bronco averaging double-figure points and rebounds with 13.1 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. She also had a team-best 49.7 field goal percentage. Elizabeth Doran leads from behind the arc and at the charity stripe with a 32.1 3FG percentage and an 87.0 free throw percentage. Sara Majors has dished out 55 assists and is second on the team with 6.4 rebounds per game, while Gipson leads with 11 blocks and 30 steals.
Moving On Up
The Broncos climbed to No. 7 in the nation this week in 3FG defense. SCU has held its opponents to a .249 three-point field goal percentage. Santa Clara is also ranked No. 95 in field goal defense, hoping its opponents to a 37.6 percentage.
15 Straight For Doran
It has been 15 straight games in which Doran has sunk at least one three-pointer. She had three against Gonzaga and two against Portland last weekend. The run started on Nov. 26 against Florida Gulf Coast and has reached a tally of 33. She has 36 3FGs on the season. Santa Clara has 81 three-pointers thus far.
Double Trouble
Sophomore Gipson is the team's leading scorer and rebounder, averaging a double-double of 13.1 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. She has compiled double-digit scoring performances in 16 of the Broncos' 19 games and has had a double-double in 13 of SCU's 19 games.
Off The Boards
For the seventh straight week, Gipson leads the West Coast Conference in rebounds. She averages a league-best 10.2 per game. She ranks No. 1 in rebounds and No. 1 in defensive rebounds with 7.37 per game.
In The WCC
In conference games only, the Broncos lead the conference 3FG% defense (.185). SCU is also second in 3FG%, third in scoring defense, and fourth in FT% and defensive rebounds. Individually, Gipson is No. 3 in rebounding and No. 8 in scoring. Majors is No. 7 in rebounding, Rhianna Faithfull is No. 5 in assists, Alyssa Shoji is No. 2 in 3FG% and Doran is No. 3 in 3FG made.
Bronco Blogging
Fans can get an insiders look at the SCU Women's Basketball season via a weekly blog feature on www.SantaClaraBroncos.com. Seniors Doran and Majors will blog about the preseason and in season antics of the Broncos, while junior Kimee Goeggel will cover the after the season happenings.
Scouting USF
The Dons enter the weekend with a 4-14 overall record and an 0-4 WCC mark. USF will look to snap its six game drought against SCU. In their last outing, the Dons fell 63-42 to the Zags. Katy Keating led the way with nine points and eight rebounds. DONS TO WATCH: Shay Rollins - 16.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 35 stl; Rheina Ale - 11.1 ppg, 3.6 rpg; Necolia Simmons - 12.9 ppg, 9.2 rpg.
Last Time vs. USF
The Dons and Broncos met three times last season. During the regular season the teams won on their respective courts, while Santa Clara earned an 89-84 first round victory at the WCC Championships.
All-Time vs. USF
Saturday's game marks the 77th meeting of the two teams. Santa Clara owns the series record, 43-33. SCU has won the eight of the last 10 meetings.
On Deck
Santa Clara remains on the road for two more WCC games to close out the first half of the conference schedule. The Broncos travel to the Los Angeles area to battle the Lions of LMU and the Waves of Pepperdine on Jan. 29 and Jan. 31, respectively.