Feb. 13, 2009
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara women's basketball team held a 10-point led halfway through the second half Thursday night but could not hold on as Pepperdine swept the series with a 59-49 win at the Leavey Center.
Each team had just one player in double-digit scoring and shot 36.4% from the field, yet SCU out-rebounded Pepperdine, 35-31.
The Broncos (2-23, 0-10 WCC) were led by Sara Majors' 16 points and game-high nine rebounds. Maggie Goldenberger added eight points and both Alyssa Shoji and Lena Gipson had seven points and six rebounds each.
The Waves (12-11, 5-4 WCC) were paced by Jazmine Jackson's game-high 23 points.
Santa Clara rallied in the first half to knot the score 11-11 at 13:19 on free throws from Majors and then claimed a four-point edge, 19-15, on a three-pointer from Elizabeth Doran. The teams traded treys as Jackson made it a one-point game for the Waves and Rhianna Faithfull gave back the lead to the Broncos for the remainder of the half.
The Broncos reached a nine-point gap on two occasions. The final time came with seven seconds to play in the first half on a layup from Gipson. Santa Clara led 31-22 going into halftime.
After the break, Pepperdine began to chip away at the lead but Santa Clara held strong on points from Shoji and Goldenberger. The Broncos claimed a 10-point advantage, 41-31, on a three-pointer from Doran with 12:44 to play. However, the Waves produced a 23-4 run that brought them within one point, 46-45, at 6:59 and gave them a nine-point lead, 54-45, with 2:45 remaining.
Free throws and a layup from Majors made it a five-point game, 54-49, but that was the closest SCU would get as the Waves won, 59-49.
The Broncos battle the Lions of Loyola Marymount in a Valentine's Day affair on Saturday, Feb. 14 at 2 p.m. Santa Clara welcomes home its alumni during halftime with a special ceremony recognizing Melissa King '93. The Broncos' all-time leading scorer's jersey will be retired to the rafters of the Leavey Center at the end of the season.