UC DAVIS (3-3) @ SANTA CLARA (1-4)
Thursday, December 3 - 7 p.m.
Leavey Center (4,500) - Santa Clara, CA
WATCH LIVE: SantaClaraBroncos.com
SOUTH DAKOTA (1-2)* @ SANTA CLARA
Sunday, December 6 - 2 p.m.
Leavey Center (4,500) - Santa Clara, CA
WATCH LIVE: SantaClaraBroncos.com
*South Dakota plays at Nebraska on Thursday, Dec. 3
GAMES #6/7: Santa Clara is in the midst of its longest homestand of the season, preparing to host UC Davis and South Dakota this week. Tip-off Thursday night is set for 7 p.m. at the Broncos' Leavey Center, 500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara campus.
TV/RADIO/INTERNET: A live video broadcast of both games will be available on Santa Clara's official athletics website (SantaClaraBroncos.com). Sam Farber (play-by-play) will be calling the action for both games, courtside from the Leavey Center. Real-time scoring will also be provided via GAMETRACKER on (SantaClaraBroncos.com).
GAME PROMOTIONS: SCU is hosting `Elementary School Night' Thursday against UC Davis. FREE admission will be offered to any youth with an elementary school ID. On Sunday against South Dakota, the Leavey Center will be the site of `Camper Reunion and BAWSI Night.'
GAME NOTES:
# Jennifer Mountain is in her second season as Santa Clara head coach
# Santa Clara has already played a tough schedule (Iowa, UCLA, Oregon and Utah)
# The Broncos committed just 10 turnovers and nearly beat MWC Champs Utah Sunday
# Santa Clara held an eight-point lead over Oregon before losing on the road last week
# SCU is armed with two of the WCC's top players, F Lena Gipson and G Alyssa Shoji
# UC Davis is coming off an impressive 71-59 road win at St. Mary's Tuesday
# The Aggies also beat USF 69-47 at home on Nov. 17
# All-WCC forward Lena Gipson scored 17 points and cleared 12 rebounds vs. Utah
# Gipson ranks 3rd in the WCC in rebounding (8.2 pg) and is shooting 54% from the field
# Sophomore guard Alyssa Shoji leads the WCC in 3PT FG (2.4 pg)
# Alyssa Shoji is the only Bronco to score in double-figures in all five games
# Former South Dakota men's basketball player Ryun Williams and current women's head coach guided the Coyotes to an 18-11 mark in 2008-09
# South Dakota - a perennial Div. II power - is in its second season at the Div. I level
# SCU is extremely young; 12 of the Broncos' 16 players are underclassmen
# The young backcourt of Alyssa Shoji, Meagan Fulps and Ashley Armstrong combined for 44 points last Tuesday in Eugene
# SCU Freshman guard Meagan Fulps was Colorado's 2009 5A `Player of the Year'
# Santa Clara prides itself on its community service activities and academic excellence, spending time each week mentoring young girls at local elementary schools. The team's current GPA is 3.41.
# UP NEXT: SCU wraps up its four-game homestand Friday, Dec. 11 vs. CSU Bakersfield
SANTA CLARA: The Broncos are hoping to pick up its first win since routing Sonoma State 73-43 in its home-opener November 7. Sophomore guard Alyssa Shoji made four 3s and power forward Lena Gipson scored 17 points Sunday as the Broncos' comeback bid came up just short against Utah. Second-year head coach Jennifer Mountain - who helped turn her alma mater at Gonzaga into one of the nation's best teams - has brought eight new players to Santa Clara for 2009-10. SCU is scoring 60 points per game while allowing just 66. Sunday's game with Utah stayed in the 50s, with Utah holding-on for a 59-54 win. Gipson - SCU's leading scorer last season (13.6 ppg) and one of the NCAA's best rebounders (9.9 rpg) - posted her 21st double-double Sunday spanning 37 games as a Bronco. Mountain is also receiving major contributions from freshmen guards Meagan Fulps (7.8 ppg) and Ashley Armstrong (5.8 rpg). Forward Maggie Goldenberger - one of just two SCU seniors - is scoring 8.0 points per night.
UC DAVIS: The Aggies made 10 3-pointers Tuesday en route to beating WCC member St. Mary's on the road 71-59. UC Davis went 11-18 under 12th-year head coach Sandy Simpson last season, finishing 7-9 and fifth in the Big West. The Aggies are scoring 61.2 points per game in its last five outings. UC Davis has lost at Washington State, 64-54, and at home to No. 2 Stanford, 69-47. USF senior transfer Heidi Hientz and All-Big West junior center Paige Mitnun lead the team in scoring. Hientz had 15 points and eight rebounds against SMC, Mitnun scored 12 on 5-of-8 shooting.
SOUTH DAKOTA: The Coyotes posted an impressive 18-11 record in its first Division I season a year ago. USD plays in the Great West Conference, along with Utah Valley, Chicago State and North Dakota, among others. The Coyotes trailed by 17 points early in the second half, rallied, but fell 65-60 at Wichita State on Sunday. Second-year head coach Ryun Williams' team lost at home to Wisconsin Green Bay 53-40 in its home-opener before rebounding with a 71-56 victory over Iowa Wesleyan.
RECENT RESULTS/UPCOMING GAMES:
L, 77-51 - vs. UCLA (11/15)
L, 88-71 - @ Oregon (11/24)
L, 59-54 - vs. UTAH (11/29)
vs. UC DAVIS (12/3)
vs. SOUTH DAKOTA (12/6)
vs. CSU BAKERSFIELD (12/11)
@ Pacific (12/13)
TICKETS: The SCU athletics department is offering a series of ticket specials for the 14-game home schedule. Season ticket packages start at just $50 for adults and $25 for youth and seniors. Season ticket reserved seating is new for 2009-10 and is being offered at the low price of $75 for the entire season. To purchase tickets or for more information contact 408-554-4660.