Dec. 26, 2008
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara women's basketball team closes out 2008 against UC Santa Barbara on Sunday, Dec. 28. Tip-off against the Gauchos is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Thunderdome.
Follow Your Broncos Online
Santa Clara fans can listen to all the action with play-by-play announcer Sam Farber via www.SantaClaraBroncos.com. The Gauchos will also offer live stats via Gametracker on www.USCBgauchos.com.
Last Time Out
Santa Clara closed its three game home stand with a 72-54 loss to West Virginia last Monday. Sophomore Kathy Willinsky had a career day with 13 points. Fellow sophomore Lena Gipson tallied double-double No. 10 with 12 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.
Bronco Watch
Forward Gipson continues to lead the team in points and rebounds, averaging a double-double with 13.6 points and 11.1 rebounds per game. Claire Goins is tied with Gipson for first on the squad with a 53.8 field goal percentage, while Elizabeth Doran owns team-bests 82.4 free throw and 34.2 3FG percentages. Sara Majors has dished out 46 assists thus far, while Gipson leads with 20 steals and 11 blocks.
It's Raining Threes
The Broncos are at it again! Against the Wolf Pack, Alyssa Shoji knocked down two threes, while Majors and Doran each had one. Against Boise State, Rhianna Faithfull, Doran and Shoji all made one trey. Against WVU, Faithfull made one, Doran made three 3FGs and Willinsky scored her first ever shot from behind the arc. It was Doran's ninth straight game in which she had scored at least one three-pointer. Santa Clara has 56 treys thus far.
Off The Boards
For the fifth straight week, Gipson leads the West Coast Conference in rebounds. She averages a league-best 11.1 per game. She ranks No. 1 in rebounds and No. 1 in defensive rebounds with 7.69 per game.
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.
Under the Bright Lights
The Broncos second home game of the West Coast Conference schedule against the Bulldogs of Gonzaga will be featured on live national television on CBS College Sports. The game time is slated for 7 p.m. at the Leavey Center. Please check local listings for channels.
Scouting UCSB
The Gauchos enter the weekend with a 3-6 overall record; however, UCSB is 3-1 at the Thunderdome. UCSB has lost its last three of five games that included a win over Gonzaga and a loss to Pepperdine. In their last outing, the Gauchos fell 69-58 at Kentucky; Whitney Warren led the team with 16 points and six rebounds. Sha'Rae Gibbons added 10 points. GAUCHOS TO WATCH: Lauren Pedersen - 11.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 26 Stl, 42 A; Jenna Green - 9.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 18 Blk; Warren - 8.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg.
Last Time vs. UCSB
The Broncos and Gauchos last met on Nov. 29, 2007 at the Leavey Center. Santa Barbara won the game 95-82.
All-Time vs. UCSB
Sunday's game marks the seventh meeting of the two programs in which UCSB leads the series, 4-2. It is also just the second time in the series that the Broncos will travel down to Santa Barbara. The last time SCU played at the Thunderdome was in the 1987-88 season when UCSB won, 68-54.
On Deck
The Broncos ring in the New Year with a cross-town rivalry match against the Spartans of San Jose State on Saturday, Jan. 3. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. the Event Center in Downtown San Jose. It is Santa Clara's final non-conference game before the beginning of West Coast Conference action on Jan. 8 against Saint Mary's.