Jan. 8, 2010
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - A seven-minute scoring drought in the second half cost Santa Clara a chance at an upset win in its West Coast Conference opener, losing to San Diego 60-44 Friday at the Jenny Craig Pavilion.
Santa Clara (2-14, 0-1 WCC) - who led by five at halftime - shot 24.1 percent in the second half, making just 7-of-29 shots.
USD (9-6, 1-0 WCC) received a game-high 15 points from Sam Child and a number of timely 3s from Morgan Woodrow to outscore Santa Clara 19-5 over the final five minutes.
The Toreros consistently double-teamed SCU's Lena Gipson, limiting the All-WCC power forward to six shot attempts.
"Lena's going to see that all year," said Santa Clara head coach Jennifer Mountain when asked about USD's defensive strategy. "We had players with open looks and they didn't go down."
Alyssa Shoji's trey pulled SCU within five, 45-40, with 5:41 left, then Child connected on a mid-range jumper and Woodrow rattled-in a 3 at the top of the key to give the Toreros its then-largest lead at 10, 50-40.
It would prove too much for a cold shooting Broncos team to overcome with three minutes remaining.
Shoji led all Bronco scorers with 13. Freshman Meagan Fulps added nine - all in the first half. Gipson finished with eight points and nine rebounds.
Santa Clara plays Bay Area rival St. Mary's in Moraga Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.
GAME NOTES: Senior Maggie Goldenberger returned to the lineup after missing the past five games with an ankle injury ... it marked the 55th all-time meeting between the two West Coast schools, SCU leads the series 30-25 ... Santa Clara got to the free throw line 15 times in the first half, making 12, compared to going 0-5 from the line in the second half ... Santa Clara's 44 points was a season low.
