Dec. 1, 2008
DAVIS, Calif. - The Santa Clara women's basketball team lost a hard-fought game, 62-54, Monday night at UC Davis to conclude its Thanksgiving road trip. With the loss, the Broncos fall to 1-7 on the season, while the Aggies improved to 3-1 overall.
Senior Elizabeth Doran knocked down a game-high three treys Monday night to lead the Broncos for the fourth straight contest. She had 15 points on the night and was one of three to go 4-for-4 from the charity stripe. Claire Goins had eight points and was perfect from the field and the free throw line. Sara Majors also shot 100 percent from the free throw line, collecting nine points and six rebounds. Lena Gipson was held to single digit points for the first time this season. She led the Broncos with seven rebounds and had nine points and three steals.
SCU took an early 3-0 lead at 19:20 and then increased its lead to five points on a layup by Goins at 17:56. UC Davis' Haylee Donaghe put the Aggies on the scoreboard at 17:04, but Gipson helped the Broncos push ahead with a layup at 12:23 to make the score, 7-2. UCD was held scoreless for another two minutes before Donaghe struck again to bring the Aggies within three, 7-4.
However, a 8:55, UC Davis took a one-point lead with a three-pointer from Hana Asano, 10-9. The Aggies widened their lead to three-points on a jumper from Paige Mintun, 12-9, but the Broncos tied the score on a trey from Doran, 12-12. UCD quickly regained the lead and held onto it through the end of the half. The Aggies led by seven-points at 2:36, but another three-pointer from Doran made it a four-point game, 24-20. The half ended with a layup from Donaghe, 28-20.
The scoring in the second half was evened at 34 total points each, but the rallies produced seemed to tell a different story. Mintun led the Aggies as she scored 11 points over a five minute period. UC Davis lead, 52-36 with 5:51 to play. The Broncos interrupted with baskets from Goins, Gipson and Kathy Willinsky, but UCD led by 19 with 4:50 remaining. Of SCU's first nine points in the second half, Goins scored six.
Yet, in those last five minutes, Santa Clara was aggressive and cut the lead to nine-points with less than 30 seconds left in the game. The Broncos inched their way to close the gap on free throws by Majors and Doran. A buzzer beating three-pointer by Kelli Parker brought the game to a close. The Aggies won, 62-54.
The Broncos return to action on Saturday, Dec. 6 against the Roadrunners of Cal State Bakersfield. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Icardo Center in Bakersfield.